Portret van Frans van Mieris (I) 1665 - 1738

Carel de Moor II rendered this portrait of Frans van Mieris I in print. Here, Van Mieris is draped in cloth, his hand resting upon his abdomen. In classical antiquity, this gesture symbolized eloquence and oratory prowess. Think of Roman senators, their hands poised just so. Yet, consider too the image of the melancholic intellectual, a figure popularized in the Renaissance. His posture echoes through time, appearing in medical illustrations depicting ailments of the spleen. The hand, once a signifier of persuasive speech, now hints at inner turmoil and reflection. The image resonates with layers of meaning, inviting us to ponder the complex interplay between outward appearance and the silent language of the body. A visual enigma, indeed.