Portrait of Don Caspar de Bracamonte y Guzman, count of Peñeranda

Ter Borch's portrait of Don Caspar de Bracamonte y Guzmán, Count of Peñaranda, from around 1648 captures the principal Spanish representative at the Münster peace negotiations in the year of their successful conclusion. Peñaranda was an experienced diplomat who had conducted Spain's negotiating position through years of difficult discussion and would have been one of the most familiar figures at Münster to ter Borch, who was present at the negotiations. This portrait, made in the year of the treaty's ratification, represents ter Borch's sustained engagement with the historical figures of the peace congress that produced his most important work, the Ratification painting. The Spanish count's portrait demonstrates ter Borch's ability to render the formal dignity of high official status while maintaining the psychological penetration that distinguished his best portraiture.

The Spanish diplomat is rendered with the formal gravity appropriate to his rank and national style. Ter Borch's precise rendering of the distinctively Spanish costume creates a convincing image of Habsburg diplomatic authority.