Alexander Erskein 1649

Editor: So, this is "Alexander Erskein" by Cornelis Galle the Younger. It looks like an engraving. There is so much ornate detail, but it feels a little stiff. How do you read it? Curator: Stiff, perhaps, but also powerful in its precision! To me, it's a meticulously crafted statement of status and authority. Consider the framing, the crests, and the Latin inscription – they all speak to Erskein’s importance. I'm also captivated by that stern, yet subtly playful mustache. It tells a story, don’t you think? Editor: Yes, I see that. It does seem like everything in the portrait is telling a story. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Now, I'm seeing this piece in a completely different way.