Doodsportret van Ferdinand II van Tirol 1595 - 1615

Curator: Dominicus Custos created this piece, a portrait depicting Ferdinand II of Tirol in death. The Rijksmuseum holds this particular engraving, dating it sometime between 1595 and 1615. Editor: Well, my immediate reaction is…somber. All those candles casting an eerie light on his final repose. The artist certainly captured a moment of… stillness, let’s say. There's a palpable sense of finality about it, what do you think? Curator: Absolutely, the artist has achieved something quite evocative. It’s more than just a record; the engraving manages to hint at Ferdinand's life while facing the undeniable reality of death. I mean, just consider Ferdinand's role as a patron of the arts and sciences; it's as if all that vitality is now... absent. Editor: It brings to mind questions of power and legacy, doesn't it? We see this powerful figure, yet stripped of everything. His titles, lands… irrelevant in this scene. What’s striking is the stark contrast. Curator: And note the text surrounding the image. Custos even included details of Ferdinand’s life and death! Seventy-seven years, seven months, and ten days he lived; quite specific. Editor: And did those in power at the time really ponder about life, about mortality, the transient nature of life's stage? Curator: The print's baroque style infuses drama into what would be a standard memorial portrait. The candles especially! Such effective lighting. Editor: The choice of engraving amplifies the sombre feel. The detail in the shading, it is hard to miss the vulnerability captured so well. In his final sleep here there are questions about who benefitted from the powers he wielded. Curator: It offers an insight into not just the person but also into the culture and attitudes towards death during that period. Editor: In this moment, the piece inspires in me some reflection of all that history represents, with power being temporary, especially on a microscale when viewed through an intersectional and justice-minded lens. What endures is a constant project that each of us can build together as we ponder and share in communities. Curator: A fitting end to a life and legacy viewed through artistic representation. A simple goodbye indeed.