\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 A Dutch painter of very fine portraits, Anthonis Mor worked at many European courts in the sixteenth century. This picture was painted
while the artist was working in the Low Countries, at a time when the country was ruled by King Philip of Spain and his sister Margarita of Parma. One of the most prominent figures at the court, a minister and regulator of the kingdomÆs affairs, was the
powerful Granvella, made a cardinal in 1561, and whose house at the gates of Brussels was famous for its luxury and splendor. But Granvella was also a great lover and patron of the arts and literature. The dwarf portrayed in this beautiful canvas was pa
rt of the cardinalÆs household. The principles of courtly severity and profound decorum that were typical of the painterÆs portraits of great personages of the time were applied to this picture as well. In reality, this produces an extremely grotesque ef
fect, stemming from the contrast between the appearance of the dwarf and the gesture of power and rigid control that he exercises over the dog, which has a truly noble appearance and is almost bigger than him. The dwarf is decked out in luxurious and hea
vy garments, weighed down even more by the imposing gold chain around his neck and girded by a sword that is completely out of proportion to his size. And it is on the collar of the animal, a specimen of a handsome breed of dog contrasting strongly with
the deplorable example of humanity offered by the dwarf, that the painter chose to set the gleaming coat of arms of Cardinal Granvella.\b \par
