Buste van een bebaarde man, naar links 1646 - 1670

Hubert Quellinus created this bust of a bearded man through engraving. The image evokes the grandeur of classical antiquity, a theme that resonated deeply in the Netherlands during Quellinus’s time. Made in the 17th century, the engraving reflects the cultural values and the rising merchant class who wanted to be associated with the political power of the Roman Empire and its sophisticated culture. The bust of a man, draped in what appears to be a toga, wears a theatrical mask, perhaps nodding to the influence of classical drama and the importance of rhetoric in civic life. The Rijksmuseum, like other museums, plays a vital role in shaping our understanding of history, and images like this bust invite us to investigate the ways in which the Dutch Golden Age looked to the past for models of governance and cultural authority. A dive into archival records and period literature provides even greater context, allowing us to better understand the complex relationship between art, power, and social identity.