Portrait of Philippe de Croy, Duke of Aerschot
1804
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1804
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man in shiny blue armor stands stiffly against a dark background. His gold trim glints, and a red sash crosses his chest. This tiny painting was done on vellum—animal skin stretched thin. It’s only about the size of a postcard, but the details are sharp enough to see the tiny dents in his armor. Philippe de Croy was a powerful noble in 16th-century Belgium, and this portrait was likely made to show off his status long after his death. If you like this kind of fine, small-scale work, look up the subject *Flemish school*.
