Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt: Portrait of François van Aerssen (1636)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt (1566 - 1641). The man on this painting is baron François van Aerssen (1572 - 1641), lord of Sommelsdijk and for almost 40 years a diplomat and statesman of the Dutch United Provinces. François van Aerssen was an important diplomat (he was stationed in England, France and Venice) who was regarded by the French Cardinal Richelieu as one of the three greatest politicians of his time (the other two are Axel Oxenstierna en Trajano Guiscardi). Besides diplomacy, François was also an a counsellor of Prince Maurice of Orange, and afterwards of his brother Prince Frederick Henry Orange. The coat-of-arms in the top right corner is his family weapon, the text beneath it mentions his name. Painting from 1636.