Portrait of Suitbertus Purmerent, 1631 by Willem van der Vliet
The label declares
this is a somber portrait,
but I see mirth
and a joyful smile
beneath soft whiskers brown
of this Catholic priest.
His long fingers hold lightly the new
black biretta.
A small crucifix leans
against two old books,
Christ propped lightly
on the edge. Somehow, miraculously
the top book is held slightly open,
as if by an invisible finger.
A wooden lion
holds the corner of his red leather chair,
massively riveted
with buttons of dull gold.
Our subject's left hand grazes
the wood rondel on the arm of the chair.
I blink, then wonder
if his hands just moved
or he winked.
I think the soul
of this man,
stretched thin over canvas
almost 400 years
just touched me.