Van der Weyden, Rogier (c.1399-1464)
Portrait of a Man with an Open Book – Guillaume Fillastre (?) (recto)
1430s
Unidentified paint on panel, 33.7 x 23.5 cm
Courtauld Institute of Art, London
Branch of Holly (verso)
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. (Courtauld)