Portret van Michel de L'Hospital before 1585

Curator: Looking at this portrait of Michel de l'Hôpital, made before 1585 and attributed to Wierix, I'm immediately struck by the overt symbols of mortality. The skull, the angels…it’s a somber memento mori, wouldn't you agree? Editor: It definitely grabs your attention, doesn't it? The composition, while classical, feels very intense because of it. I'm interested in this as a historical object. L'Hôpital, a significant figure in French legal history, served as Chancellor during a tumultuous period of religious conflict. Curator: Exactly! Knowing that, those symbols resonate even more deeply. The angels could represent hopes for peace in the face of inevitable death, a pretty typical visual for the time in Northern Europe, no? That's further cemented with the inscription right above the portrait itself. "Si fractus illabatur orbis, impavidum ferient ruinae," or, "If the world should break and fall upon him, the ruins will strike him unafraid." A statement reflecting resilience. Editor: And that steadfastness is what I see reflected in the depiction of L'Hôpital. His gaze is direct, almost challenging. He was caught between Catholic hard-liners and the rising Huguenots. It's reasonable that Wierix and the image's patron were aiming to make a statement of intellectual strength. Curator: It also makes you wonder about the intended audience and its cultural and philosophical leanings. The details feel…conflicted. Even the wings on the angel flanking the frame include sharp edges, lending to that sense of a society facing many tensions. The image overall lends itself to serious intellectual contemplation about L'Hopital and the period of history. Editor: True. And in the Rijksmuseum’s collection, displayed among other portraits of the era, it speaks volumes about the aspirations and anxieties of the 16th century elite and, more broadly, reminds us that power often sought legitimization through carefully constructed imagery. Curator: The Rijksmuseum is fortunate to have this interesting work as part of its collection. So much weight contained in these pen and ink lines. Editor: Indeed. A powerful reminder of the intersection of personal fortitude and political strife.