Portrait of a man, after a sixteenth-century model 1624

David Bailly made this portrait of a man after a sixteenth-century model with pen in brown and gray ink and brush in gray, around 1624. The image is presented as a drawing pinned to a wall, a clever illusion that speaks volumes about the cultural status of images during the Dutch Golden Age. Bailly, working in Leiden, was deeply engaged with the history of art and the institutions that supported it. Here, he consciously evokes earlier styles, nodding to the past while showcasing his mastery of contemporary techniques. This wasn't merely about aesthetic preference; it was a strategic move to position himself within a lineage of artistic excellence, demonstrating his understanding of art-historical precedents and the market value of such knowledge. As art historians, our appreciation of this work is enriched by delving into the social and economic conditions of 17th-century Holland, looking at archival records, period documents, and the biographies of artists and patrons.