Hertog van Sully bij het lijk van Hendrik IV 1785

Curator: Here we have a print by Reinier Vinkeles, dating back to 1785. It’s titled "Hertog van Sully bij het lijk van Hendrik IV," currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: Oof, intense. It’s got that dramatic Baroque flair, even in print. Everyone’s all splayed out, lots of limb action! What's got them so worked up? Curator: The scene depicts the Duke of Sully, overcome with grief at the death of King Henry IV. You can see the King's body laid out in the background, surrounded by mourners, while Sully appears almost… theatrical, in his despair. Editor: Theatrical is spot on! It’s interesting how Vinkeles uses the contrast of light and shadow—even with engraving limitations—to really push the drama. Sully's pose looks…almost like he's accusing someone. Or maybe he just stubbed his toe really bad! Curator: Formally, the composition directs our eye toward Sully; he’s the focal point of the narrative, with his gesture emphasizing the emotional impact of the King’s death. Structurally, Vinkeles employs strong diagonals to heighten the dynamism of the scene. Editor: Right, it's like all the lines are radiating from the body. You know, seeing art about grief always makes me wonder about the artist's own losses. Vinkeles, living through the enlightenment…wonder if he channeled anything personal into this? Did losing faith in monarchs felt anything like personal loss? Curator: Perhaps. What’s clear is the engraving excels at capturing minute details—the textures of the fabrics, the expressions on the faces. Semiotically, each element contributes to a reading of profound sorrow and the weight of political loss. Editor: It's a little bit like eavesdropping on a history book, except everyone's really bummed out, you know? A peek into a very theatrical historical drama, frozen in monochrome. I didn’t expect to feel this melancholy for an old print of old event. Curator: A testament to the power of visual storytelling, then, wouldn't you say? Even removed by centuries and medium, the emotional core remains powerfully accessible. Editor: Exactly. Guess those Renaissance folks were onto something with this drama stuff. Let's go check out something less depressing.