Hans Baldung Grien (1484/5 - 1545), Portrait of a Man, 1514. Oil on wood (probably lime), 59.3 × 48.9 cm. Bought, 1854, NG245 © 2016-2026 The National Gallery

Although we do not know his name, we can tell a lot about Baldung Grien’s mature sitter from the details of his costume. The large fur collar of his coat, the jewel on his cap and the two gold chains around his neck show off his wealth. The longer chain bears two badges: the Virgin and Child within a crescent moon and surrounded by rays, and a bird of prey and a fish facing each other.

The first badge is the emblem of the Order of Our Lady of the Swan, a religious group that only admitted members of the nobility. The second is the insignia of the elite Society to the Falcon and Fish, a group that organised jousting tournaments for the noblemen based in the southern German region of Swabia.