Portret van Sigismondo Malatesta 1600 - 1604

Dominicus Custos' "Portret van Sigismondo Malatesta" is an etching, created between 1600 and 1604, depicting a profile portrait of Sigismondo Malatesta, a notable figure in Renaissance Italy. The artwork, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, showcases Malatesta in a formal, elegant pose, emphasizing his status and importance. The use of etching as a technique allows for a fine level of detail and intricate textures, adding to the realism of the portrait. The composition is simple yet striking, with Malatesta framed within a circular border, inscribed with his title and the Latin text "Ore Sigismundus tali Malatesta vigebat, Marte bonus Dux, lustro te ante dece," meaning "Sigismondo Malatesta, a good leader in war, was full of life and died at the age of 30," a poignant testament to the subject's life.