by-nc

Portrait of a Man with an Open Book - Guillaume Fillastre (?) (recto)

Maker

Attributed to
(Artists)
ca.1399-1464 (Life dates)

Title

Portrait of a Man with an Open Book - Guillaume Fillastre (?) (recto)

Date of Production

(1430s) 1430 - 1439

Medium

unidentified paint

Dimensions

Height: 33.7 cm (panel)
Width: 23.5 cm (panel)

Accession Number

P.1987.XX.486

Mode of Acquisition

HM Government (Acceptance in Lieu), allocation, 1987

Credit

Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 1987.

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords





Label Text

The man looks up, as if he has been interrupted from reading. The cameo in his ring, displayed in close proximity to his book, suggests an interest in antiquity and classical literature. The sitter has been identified as the important Burgundian cleric Guillaume Fillastre. The painting is inscribed ‘Je he ce que mord’ (I hate things that bite), referring to the holly painted on the reverse. However, neither plant nor motto can be associated with Fillastre.

Provenance

Sir Thomas Merton; accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 1987.

Exhibition History

Hidden Faces: Covered Portraits of the Renaissance, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 01/04/2024-07/07/2024

Rogier van der Weyden, Museum Leuven & Leuven & Belgium, 18/09/2009-08/12/2009

Robert Campin, the Master of Flemalle and Rogier van der Weyden, Staatliche Museen & Berlin & Germany, 20/03/2009-21/06/2009 ...More

Robert Campin, the Master of Flemalle and Rogier van der Weyden, Das Stadel & Frankfurt & Germany, 21/11/2008-22/02/2009

Memling's Portraiture, Groeningemuseum & Bruges & Brussels, 07/06/2005-04/09/2005

Second Nature, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 14/06/2000-03/09/2000

Flemish Art 1300-1700, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1953-54

Paintings by Old Masters, Colnaghi & London & England, 1935 (June) ...Less

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.ukFind out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection