Buste van Filibert van Savoye Possibly 1664 - 1669

Editor: This is Jan de Bisschop’s "Bust of Filibert van Savoye," likely from the late 1660s. It's ink on paper, and it feels quite serene and contemplative, even unfinished in a way. What jumps out at you when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, isn’t it charming? It’s more than just a portrait, isn’t it? Look at the wash of sepia ink—it’s almost as if de Bisschop is breathing life, a quiet, almost spectral existence, into this marble effigy. The slightly askew hat… it almost suggests a personality escaping the rigidity of the sculpture itself. Have you ever felt a bit trapped by expectations, as though chipping away at stone to reveal your true self? Editor: Absolutely. That struggle is something I see a lot in portraiture. It's like the artist and the subject are collaborating to present an ideal. Curator: Precisely! But here, it's like de Bisschop is winking at us, suggesting that the “ideal” is a construct. It reminds me of those fleeting moments of vulnerability, of showing one's true colours just beneath a carefully crafted surface. It makes you wonder about the real Filibert van Savoye, doesn't it? Beyond the marble and the ink, what story does that gaze hold? Editor: Definitely. I think I initially saw it as just a baroque drawing, but I can see how the artist included something much deeper. Curator: And that’s the beauty of art, isn't it? Layers upon layers, whispering secrets to those who dare to listen with their heart. Editor: It’s definitely made me think about portraiture in a new way. Thanks for sharing your insight!