Detail van een schilderij met het zelfportret van Constantijn Daniël à Renesse 1782

This drawing of Constantijn Daniël à Renesse was made by Aert Schouman, probably in 1782. It is a copy of a detail taken from a larger family portrait. We know that Renesse was an artist in his own right, and this drawing is thought to be a self-portrait. The inscription at the bottom of the image states that it was made “in the manner of Rembrandt”. This could be a clue to Renesse's artistic ambitions. Was he trying to align himself with one of the most famous and successful artists of the Dutch Golden Age? The inscription also references “AS” who probably refers to Aert Schouman himself. If this is true, it raises questions about the relationship between these two artists. Was Schouman helping Renesse to promote himself, or was he simply making a copy for his own collection? These are the kinds of questions art historians ask when trying to understand the social context in which art is made. We can start to answer them by researching the lives and careers of both artists.