Portret van Marcus van Vaernewijck 1816 - 1886

Charles Onghena made this portrait of Marcus van Vaernewijck as an engraving. Looking at this portrait we may consider the role of civic identity in 19th-century Belgium. It evokes earlier eras through its subject, Marcus van Vaernewijck, who was a 16th-century Ghentese painter and chronicler, and through the visual codes that present him. Van Vaernewijck's attire signals status and authority and situates him within the visual traditions of elite portraiture. The coat of arms below further emphasizes noble lineage and social standing. Onghena lived in a time of nation-building, where figures such as Van Vaernewijck were instrumental. As a chronicler of Ghent, Van Vaernewijck provided narratives that shaped regional identity and civic pride, something that was critical for Belgium at this time. To understand the full meaning of this engraving, scholars consult historical archives, genealogical records, and studies of 19th-century Belgian nationalism, providing insight into how historical figures are used to shape contemporary social identities.