Portret van Filips de Schone c. 1628 - 1688

This is an engraving of Philip the Handsome by an anonymous artist. It’s difficult to put a firm date on it, but images like this would have circulated widely across Europe from the late fifteenth century onward. The print reflects the cultural and political importance of portraiture within elite circles at this time. Philip is shown here as a ruler, with the symbols of power that were conventionally associated with his status: his coat of arms, the scepter and sword that he holds, even the armor beside him. Notice the dog, a symbol of aristocratic loyalty. Prints like this played an important role in constructing his public image. As art historians, we can use images like this to understand the way power was represented and communicated in the early modern period. Researching his genealogy and his historical context can also reveal more about the specific symbolism used here. The meaning of such images is always dependent on the context of their making.