Portrait of Nicolas Trigault in Chinese Costume

Description

Nicolas Trigault stands in profile, his hands gathered within the long sleeves of an ample robe. A tall cap gives his silhouette an emphatic upward finish, while the pale ground keeps attention on the sitter and his unusual clothing. Peter Paul Rubens treats the robe as a substantial, enveloping form: its folds and proportions help establish the missionary’s presence as clearly as the carefully observed face.

Made in 1617, the portrait shows the Flemish Jesuit missionary during a visit to Antwerp. His clothing combines a Korean cap with the robe of a Chinese scholar, reflecting the cultural relationships of the mission. Rubens worked with several colors of chalk, blue pastel and ink, allowing the sheet to hold both drawn definition and areas of tone. The work’s appeal lies in how clothing and likeness remain connected, making the sitter’s human presence inseparable from his distinctive presentation.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Peter Paul Rubens collection.