Maerten de Vos 1570 - 1629

Aegidius Sadeler II created this engraving of Maerten de Vos on paper. It’s a portrait of the artist, aged sixty, framed by allegorical figures. Sadeler was a prominent printmaker working in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. In this print, consider the cultural significance of portraiture in that period, particularly for artists. In Antwerp, where both artists lived, the Guild of Saint Luke, which was the professional organization for painters and other artists, played a crucial role in shaping artistic production and regulating the art market. So this print could be a form of self-promotion within that professional network. Prints like this circulated widely, helping to establish an artist's reputation beyond their local context. In addition to the visual image, the Latin text at the bottom tells us something about the role of artistic genius in the society of that time. We can learn more about this and other artworks through archival research into the social networks of artists and their patrons and also by analyzing the structures that govern artistic production.