An important commander, count Hendrik loved having his portrait painted. We know of at least three more portraits of him. One has got lost and is only known through copies in engravings, one is at the Prado in Madrid. The portrait you are now looking at is the first portrait of Hendrik as an individual. It was made on the occasion of his being appointed Stadtholder of Spanish Guelders in 1618. This explains the red sash, red being the colour of the Spanish side in the war. Hendrik is painted in full regalia, in a horseman suit of armour. The introduction of firearms had made such suits highly impractical, but they were still worn on portraits to emanate power and rank. Life-size portraits such as this one were only made of the upper class of 16th and early 17th century aristocracy, which gives us an idea of Hendrik’s standing.
For more information on this portrait, press A For more information on Hendrik the generalissimo, press B For a song about Hendrik, press C