Explore the The fly and trompe-l'œil about the Overview of this artwork, Portrait of a Carthusian.
Portrait of a Carthusian sports a trompe-l'œil fly on the center of its trompe-l'œil lower frame. The addition of trompe-l'œil flies to works of art is believed to have begun in the 15th century, right as Christus became active. Art Historians are generally split between two different interpretations of their use. Many art historians believe the fly to hold religious symbolism, functions as connotations of sin, corruption, mortality, etc. Art historians believe that a fly was used to evoke such images in connection with Satan’s moniker Beelzebub—the Lord of the Flies. More recently, art historians are beginning to view the inclusion of trompe-l'œil flies as a professional calling card, with art historian Felix Thülemann describing it as “a selfconscious representation of superior painterly prowess. It is believed that this is why the fly generally appears next to the artist’s signature (the fly’s position right next to ‘Petrus ΧΡΙ Me Fecit’ hinting that the fly might be the referent of ‘me’ rather than the painting.)
Beelzebub trompe-l'œil Carthusian mortality Christ ΧΡΙ Satan