Portrait of an African Man (Christophle le More?) — Jan Jansz Mostaert

Jan Jansz Mostaert. Painted c. 1525 - c. 1530.

This is the only known portrait of a black man in early European painting. He may have served at the Brussels court of Emperor Charles V, who had a black archer called Christophle le More among his bodyguards. The badge of the Virgin on his cap is a souvenir of a pilgrimage to Halle (Brabant), a favourite destination of pilgrims from the Brussels court.

From the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

oak (wood), oil paint (paint) · Original size: 21.2 × 30.8 cm · Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, with additional funding from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the Mondriaan Stichting, the VSBfonds, the BankGiro Lottery and the Rijksmuseum Fonds

Print: 21.2 × 30.8 cm, printed on Hahnemühle FineArt archival cotton paper. Museum-grade reproduction quality, true to the colours and detail of the original work.

Frame (optional): a custom-made wooden frame in a matte black finish, cut to the exact dimensions of this print, with an off-white passe-partout mat and protective glazing. Ready to hang.

Source: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20015053. Image released under CC0 by the Rijksmuseum.