Portretten van Desiderius Erasmus, Hans Holbein de Oude en Jan Mandijn 1764

Jan l' Admiral created this print titled 'Portretten van Desiderius Erasmus, Hans Holbein de Oude en Jan Mandijn' sometime in the 18th century. It depicts three portraits alongside some painting materials like a palette. This print offers a glimpse into the cultural milieu of the 1700s, when the identities of artists and intellectuals were being shaped by burgeoning print culture. We see how artists like l’Admiral engaged with history, choosing to represent figures from different eras and with different social standings. What does it mean to place these men – Erasmus, Holbein and Mandijn – together, collapsing time and status? Note the inscription below Mandijn’s portrait, possibly adding a layer of commentary or critique, hinting at the complex relationships between artists and their subjects. Through this work, l’Admiral engages in a dialogue about legacy, artistic representation, and the construction of identity across time. It invites us to consider the narratives we inherit and the ways artists contribute to and challenge these stories.