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| Cornelis Bisschop Young woman and Cavalier 1660s Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Giovanni Battista Agucchi wrote a 17th-century Treatise on Painting. He explained that artists are obliged to observe nature, but never for the purpose of mere representation. Their job is to look at nature, and then improve it. Painters are not slavish copyists but divine creators –
"We do not wish to deny the proper praise to painters who paint excellent portraits. True, the most perfect practice calls not for seeking to depict what the face of Alexander or of Caesar might have been but rather for seeking to depict what a king and a magnanimous and strong captain should be. Nonetheless, the most valiant painters, without straying from likeness, have aided nature by art and represented faces more beautifully and more comely than the truth, showing that even in this sort of work they can determine how nature would have added more beauty to their subject in order to perfect it."
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| Sébastien Bourdon Portrait of Countess Ebba Sparre, companion to Queen Christina of Sweden 1652-53 National Gallery of Art (U.S.) |
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| Alonso Cano Imaginary portrait of an ancient Spanish King 1640 Prado |
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| Anthony van Dyck Portrait of Zeger van Hontsum ca. 1630 Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt Portrait of a Lady of the van Beijeren family ca. 1620 Prado |
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| Carlo Ceresa Portrait of a man ca. 1645-50 Prado |
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| Andrea Vaccaro Santa Águeda ca. 1635 Prado |
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| Govert Flinck Portrait of a man 1645 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
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| José García Hidalgo María Luisa d' Orleans, Queen of Spain 1679 Prado |
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| Giovanni Battista Gauli Portrait of a woman 1670s Metropolitan Museum of Art |
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| Salvator Rosa Architas of Tarento, Philosopher 1668 Prado |
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| Pietro Negri Vanitas 1662 Prado |
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| Spanish painter Portrait of a youth 17th century Prado |
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| Gerard ter Borch Portrait of Petronilla de Waert 1670 Prado |