Portret van Marino Grimani - Dominicus Custos

A formal engraving of Marino Grimani, Doge of Venice, by the Flemish printmaker Dominicus Custos.

This engraving by Dominicus Custos depicts Marino Grimani, who served as the Doge of Venice from 1595 until 1605. Custos, a Flemish printmaker who spent much of his career in Augsburg, was known for his technical precision in portraiture. The subject is presented within an oval frame, a common convention for formal portrait prints of the period. He wears the traditional corno ducale, the distinctive headgear of the Venetian Doge, adorned with subtle decorative patterns. His heavy, fur-lined mantle is rendered with careful attention to texture, using fine parallel lines to suggest the weight and volume of the garment.

The composition is balanced and formal, reflecting the status of the sitter. The Latin inscription surrounding the oval identifies the subject as the Duke of Venice, while the text below provides a brief laudatory comment on his leadership. The engraving technique demonstrates the characteristic clarity of the period, with cross-hatching used to create depth in the shadows of the beard and the folds of the clothing. The background remains neutral, ensuring the focus stays on the facial features and the regalia of the office.

Custos was instrumental in the dissemination of portraiture across Europe, often working with other artists to produce series of notable figures. This print is a clear example of the professional standards of late sixteenth-century printmaking. It captures the gravity expected of a Venetian leader, with the artist employing a disciplined approach to line and form. The print remains a valuable record of the visual culture surrounding the Venetian Republic during the transition into the seventeenth century.