Portret van Algernon Percy 1736 - 1738

Jacob Houbraken created this engraving of Algernon Percy, Earl of Northumberland, sometime between 1698 and 1780. Consider this image within the context of the Dutch Republic's Golden Age, when portraiture served as a powerful tool for shaping public perception and reinforcing social hierarchies. Houbraken, working within established artistic conventions, presents Percy as a figure of authority. His pose, attire, and the symbolic elements surrounding him—like the cherub with a laurel wreath and naval imagery—all contribute to a carefully constructed image of power and prestige. These visual cues speak to the importance of maritime strength and aristocratic lineage in the Dutch collective consciousness. As historians, we can explore this image by examining genealogical records, period literature, and other visual representations of nobility. By studying this portrait in relation to its historical and institutional context, we gain a deeper understanding of the values, aspirations, and power dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age.