28/77

About this artwork

Paard en ruiter naar links. Het paard steigert. De Italiaanse geklede jonker heeft een rijzweep in de handen. De prent heeft een Duits en een Latijns onderschrift. Prent oorspronkelijk uit 'Equitum descripcio...', 1577.

Art Historical Context

"28/77" is a dynamic engraving by Flemish artist Abraham de Bruyn, in 1577 as plate 28 from his renowned series *Equitum descriptio* ("Description of Horsemen"). Measuring just 156mm high by 123mm wide, this print captures a young Italian-dressed nobleman reining in a rearing horse facing left, whip in hand. Bilingual captions in German and Latin add scholarly depth, reflecting the era's multilingual humanism. De Bruyn, a master engraver of the Northern Renaissance, specialized in detailed costume books that documented European fashions and equestrian prowess. Engravings like this allowed precise reproduction of intricate line work—fine cross-hatching for the horse's musculature and the nobleman's ornate attire—making such images accessible beyond elite circles. The rearing steed symbolizes controlled power, a nod to the chivalric ideals of 16th-century nobility. This artwork offers a window into Renaissance fascination with Italian style and horsemanship, blending artistry with cultural documentation. Visitors will appreciate how de Bruyn's technical skill immortalized the swagger of a "jonker" (young lord), evoking the thrill of the riding arena in Antwerp's vibrant print culture.