Programme 5

Programme Outline

A rich person could also use a large and well-painted portrait as a status symbol. In the Arnolfini Portrait, the couple’s fur-trimmed and lined clothes would not have been worn in the middle of summer – and it does seem to be summer, as there are ripe cherries on the tree just visible through the window on the left. Perhaps the couple just wanted to be shown in their most luxurious clothes.

Self-portraits can serve similar purposes. Even in Rembrandt’s lifetime, collectors were keen to own pictures of such a famous artist, painted by himself; so through his self-portraits Rembrandt could publicise his skill as an artist.