Beyond Servitude: Black Aristocracy and Upper-Class Presence in Europe

Title

Portrait of an African Man (Christophle le More?)

Description

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

creator

Mostaert, Jan Jansz

date created

1525–1530

cultural context

Belgian, Mechelen

Rights Holder

Rijksmuseum

Source

Rijksmuseum

material

oil paint (paint)

panel painters

Medium

support: upon which media have been applied.

Technique

oil painting (technique)

Rights

Rijksmuseum