Knight Jan van Eden
1525
Staring out from beneath a dramatically wide-brimmed black hat, Heer Jan van Eden looks less like a distant historical figure and more like someone you might bump into at a 16th-century coffee shop. Painted by Cornelis Engebrechtsz in 1525, this Early Netherlandish portrait uses a heavy gold chain and cross to loudly announce the subject's knightly status and piety. The arched wooden frame and the bold inscription at the top act like a permanent nameplate, ensuring that this serious-faced gentleman would be remembered for centuries to come.
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