Portret van Lucas Faydherbe 1628 - 1670

Pieter de Jode II created this engraving, "Portrait of Lucas Faydherbe", around 1644. Faydherbe was a sculptor and architect from Mechelen, now in Belgium, then part of the Spanish Netherlands. This portrait tells us about the social standing of artists in the 17th century. The inscription below the image identifies Faydherbe as a renowned figure, a testament to his skill and reputation. It also notes his apprenticeship with the celebrated painter Peter Paul Rubens, underscoring the importance of artistic lineages and the master-apprentice system in the art world. The choice of French for the inscription suggests an intended audience among the educated elite, reflecting the growing internationalism of artistic networks. To fully understand this portrait, we can delve into the archives of Mechelen, examining guild records, civic commissions, and family papers. Such research reveals the dense web of relationships that shaped artistic production in this era. Art doesn't exist in a vacuum, it thrives within a specific social and institutional context.