Portret van Frederik, baron van Limburg op 57-jarige leeftijd - Dominicus Custos

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Dominicus Custos, capturing the formal portrait of Frederik, Baron van Limburg, in his fifty-seventh year.

This engraving by Dominicus Custos depicts Frederik, Baron van Limburg, at the age of fifty-seven. As a prominent printmaker active in Augsburg, Custos was known for his technical precision in portraiture. The work follows the conventions of early seventeenth-century European portraiture, placing the subject within an oval frame surrounded by decorative corner motifs. The baron is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a stiff ruff collar and a fur-lined cloak, which indicates his status and wealth. His hand rests upon the hilt of a sword, a common attribute in aristocratic portraiture of the period to signify military authority or noble standing.

The surrounding text within the oval frame provides biographical details, including his age and titles, while the Latin inscription at the base offers a moralising sentiment regarding divine providence. The engraving technique employs fine cross-hatching to model the facial features and the texture of the garments, demonstrating the artist's control over the copper plate. The composition is balanced and formal, typical of the period's interest in documenting the appearance and rank of the nobility. The clarity of the lines and the structured arrangement of the text reflect the high standards of print production in the Holy Roman Empire during the transition into the Baroque era. This print serves as a record of the sitter's identity and social position, preserved through the medium of black and white engraving.