Portrait of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy - Jan Punt

An eighteenth-century engraving by Jan Punt depicting Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, in full armour with his heraldic shield.

This print by the Dutch engraver Jan Punt depicts Charles the Bold, the last Valois Duke of Burgundy. The work is executed in the formal style of eighteenth-century historical portraiture, intended for inclusion in a biographical volume. The subject is presented within an oval frame, wearing full plate armour and a plumed helmet, which reflects the martial reputation of the Duke. To his side, a heraldic shield displays the quartered arms of the Burgundian territories, providing a visual summary of his political reach.

Jan Punt was a prolific engraver and actor based in Amsterdam. His technical approach relies on precise line work and cross-hatching to define the metallic surfaces of the armour and the contours of the face. The composition is balanced and restrained, typical of the period's preference for clear, didactic imagery. Below the portrait, a cartouche contains a Latin and Dutch inscription detailing the Duke's titles and the date of his death in 1477. The inclusion of 'Eerste Deel' (First Part) and 'Pag. 15' at the top of the sheet confirms its origin as a plate from a larger historical publication.

This print offers a window into how historical figures were visualised during the Enlightenment. Rather than attempting a contemporary likeness, Punt interprets the medieval ruler through the aesthetic lens of his own time. The result is a clean, structured image that prioritises clarity and historical record. The print is an example of the high standard of book illustration produced in the Netherlands during the mid-eighteenth century, where the craft of engraving was essential for the dissemination of historical knowledge to a wider public.