Portrait of Joris van Egmond c. 1535 - 1540

Jan van Scorel painted this portrait of Joris van Egmond during the 16th century. It's an oil on panel that presents us with a man of obvious wealth and status, indicated by his fine clothing. The image presents Joris in a way that reflects the values of the time. The somber colors and controlled pose speak to the importance of restraint and decorum in the Northern Renaissance. Consider too, the cultural and religious context of the time. The rise of humanism and the Reformation were challenging traditional social structures. Portraits like this, with their emphasis on individual character, reflect these shifts in worldview. As art historians, we can look to surviving documents, letters, and other artworks of the period to gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces that shaped this painting, and how the sitter wanted to be seen by others.