Sight (Portrait of Robert van den Hoecke)

Robert van den Hoeke (1622 - 1668), was a painter and engraver who worked in Antwerp and in Brussels. He became 'Contrôleur des fortifications' in Flanders and the plan, baldric (belt hung over the shoulder) and sword presumably refer to this office. The identification of the sitter is dependent upon the inscription on an engraving of the portrait by Cauckercken, which appeared in a book published in 1661.

The artist represents Sight, one of a series of the 'Five Senses', by Coques, in the Collection; 'Hearing', 'Touch', 'Smell', the fifth, 'Taste', is probably a copy. The series was painted before 1661 when 'Sight' was engraved. The costumes suggest a date of about 1655-60.