Unraveling the Mystery of Crypto-Portraits

Art historians have long been fascinated by the idea that Hans Süss von Kulmbach, a German artist, created a portrait of John Boner, a wealthy Krakow banker. This notion has sparked intense debate and research into Kulmbach's connections to Poland. Two paintings in the collection of St Mary's Basilica in Krakow are at the center of this discussion: the Disputation of St Catherine of Alexandria and the Self-burial of St John the Evangelist.

The concept of recognizability is key to understanding these paintings. In the premodern era, artists used various techniques to make their subjects easily identifiable. Mimesis, or the imitation of reality, was one approach, while schematism, or the use of symbols and codes, was another. Kulmbach's use of heraldry and costume in his paintings is also significant, as these elements can provide clues about the identity of the figures depicted.

The Disputation of St Catherine of Alexandria, created between 1514 and 1515, features a group of figures engaged in a heated discussion. Some art historians believe that one of these figures is a portrait of John Boner, while others argue that it is a representation of a different individual. The Self-burial of St John the Evangelist, painted in 1516, also raises questions about the identity of its subjects. By examining these paintings through the lens of recognizability, we can gain a deeper understanding of Kulmbach's artistic style and his possible connections to Poland.

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