French or Spanish school; c. 1700.

French or Spanish school; c. 1700.
"Portrait of a knight of the order of the Holy Spirit".
Oil on copper.
Measurements: 10 x 7.5 cm; 18 x 14 cm (frame).
Portrait of a knight of the order of the Holy Spirit. The psychological capture of deep character in the look, the point of view represented in the scene, the sumptuousness in the details of the clothes and the use of the colors between lights and shades show the quality of the artist.
The portrait as a genre reached a great popularity, a consequence of the new social structures that were implanted in the Western world during this century, embodying the maximum expression of the transformation of taste and mentality of the new clientele, emerged between the nobility and the wealthy bourgeoisie, who would take the reins of history in this period. While official circles gave preponderance to other artistic genres, such as history painting, and the incipient collecting encouraged the profusion of costume paintings, portraiture monopolized the demand for painting destined for the more private sphere, as a reflection of the value of the individual in the new society. This genre embodies the permanent presence of the image of its protagonists, to be enjoyed in the intimacy of a studio, in the daily warmth of a family cabinet or presiding over the main rooms of the house.