Portret van Mathew Parker 1698

Curator: This engraving, dating from 1698, depicts Mathew Parker. It’s held here at the Rijksmuseum and is attributed to Pieter van Gunst. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It's so crisp and formal! The detail in the lines almost gives it the feel of an architectural drawing. There's an austere elegance, like a well-organized, slightly melancholy library. Curator: Yes, the lines are very precise, characteristic of engraving as a medium. Note how Van Gunst uses hatching to model Parker's face and robes, creating depth and shadow. The architectural feel you mention, might stem from its Baroque sensibilities, it’s designed to present Parker as a monumental figure of power and authority. Editor: Power definitely radiates from him. I get a strong sense of gravity, authority rooted in knowledge, which is enhanced by the religious iconography above him, this shield with a cross is visually interesting. It makes you consider the weight and significance that those symbols carried for Parker. Curator: Exactly. The symbols are fundamental to interpreting the portrait. Mathew Parker was the Archbishop of Canterbury, a central figure in the English Reformation. The coat of arms, his attire – the cap and robes – all point to his high ecclesiastical office. He’s very self-assured in the tradition of history painting. Editor: The artist used the black-and-white medium to emphasize light and shadow, right? I find his facial expression… well, inscrutable, in a way! It’s like he holds his cards close to his chest. Curator: Perhaps intentionally! Part of the iconographic tradition is to project an image of steadfastness. While the engraving might lack the colour of an oil painting, it gains in clarity of line and symbolic language. And let’s not forget the lettering at the bottom – reinforcing his title and legacy. Editor: It all works together to craft a very deliberate narrative. It’s impressive, and more than a bit intimidating, too. Thinking about Parker looking down through all these centuries! I suppose images like these contribute to his long-lasting power and influence. Curator: Indeed. Portraits like these aren't just likenesses; they are carefully constructed statements intended to resonate through time.