Der amputierte Herrscher

Why did an unknown Dutch artist paint a portrait of a Moluccan ruler with an amputated arm in the 17th century? Yannis Hadjinicolaou uncovers the fascinating story behind this unusual depiction of Sultan Sayfoedin, who ruled Tidore, one of the Moluccas islands in northeastern Indonesia, from 1657 to 1687. He examines the reasons for portraying Sayfoedin’s amputation, interprets the significance of his attire, and traces the provenance of the painting, now housed in the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow. Hadjinicolaou highlights the importance of Sayfoedin’s partnership with the Dutch East India Company and the carnation trade, showing how the portrait reflects the complex interplay between colonial power and local authority.

• New perspectives on topics such as political iconography, transculturality, materiality and disability
• Critical global art history