Who painted Portrait of Petrus Ricardus?

Portrait of Petrus Ricardus was painted by Frans Pourbus, the Younger in 1596.

Where can I see Portrait of Petrus Ricardus?

Portrait of Petrus Ricardus is held by Groeningemuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Petrus Ricardus?

Portrait of Petrus Ricardus is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Portrait of Petrus Ricardus

Frans Pourbus, the Younger , 1596

Portrait of Petrus Ricardus is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Pourbus, the Younger. It dates from 1596 and is held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

These details combine to suggest a learned, respectable figure within the elite social circle of the late sixteenth‑century Flemish court.

The portrait shows Petrus Ricardus wearing a ruff, a medallion, and a glove, and he holds a ring and a book. His coat displays a heraldic device, indicating his noble status. These details combine to suggest a learned, respectable figure within the elite social circle of the late sixteenth‑century Flemish court.

The inclusion of scholarly objects such as the book and the medallion reinforces an interpretation of Ricardus as a cultured humanist. The heraldic emblem and the fine attire further underscore his aristocratic identity and the prestige associated with his lineage.

Technique & Style

The painting is executed in oil on oak panel, a common support for Northern European portraiture of the late sixteenth century. The handling is precise and linear, with smooth transitions in modeling that emphasize the sitter’s facial features and the textures of his ruff and garments. The composition is restrained, focusing attention on the head and upper torso, while the restrained palette and careful delineation of costume and insignia align with the conventions of court portraiture of the period.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted by Frans Pourbus the Younger in 1592, as indicated by its internal documentation and the wikidata record, which both list the same year of creation.

The work entered the collection of the Groeningemuseum, part of the Vlaamse Kunstcollectie, where it remains located according to the wikidata entry.

The painting is held in the Groeningemuseum as part of the Flemish Art Collection in Bruges. Its accession number is not specified in the cited sources.

It was exhibited in 1993 at the exhibition Dulle Wellust: Bruges in de XVIde Eeuw held in Bruges.

Overview

Portrait of Petrus Ricardus is a 1596 oil painting by Frans Pourbus the Younger, a Flemish artist known for his portraits.