Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Bartholomeus van der Helst in 1659.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a Man

Bartholomeus van der Helst , 1659

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Bartholomeus van der Helst. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Bartholomeus van der Helst executed this oil portrait in 1659, during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. The canvas presents a single sitter rendered in the formal, half‑length format typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch portraiture. The work now belongs to the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is shown in a dark coat with a crisp white collar, his gaze directed straight toward the viewer. One hand rests on a curved armrest while the other grasps a small object—perhaps a glove or a decorative piece—suggesting status and personal refinement. The solemn expression and restrained pose convey the sitter’s dignity and social standing.

Technique & Style

Fine detailing of the high collar, decorative pin, and fabric folds reflects the painter’s meticulous approach to texture and material.

Van der Helst employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, letting a focused light illuminate the face and upper chest against a deep green backdrop that resembles draped fabric. The contrast between illuminated flesh and shadowed clothing heightens the three‑dimensional effect. Fine detailing of the high collar, decorative pin, and fabric folds reflects the painter’s meticulous approach to texture and material.

History & Provenance

Created for an Amsterdam patron, the portrait reflects van der Helst’s reputation among the city’s elite. After changing hands over the centuries, it entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Bartholomeus van der Helst

Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613 – buried 16 December 1670) was a Dutch painter. Considered to be one of the leading portrait painters of the Dutch Golden Age, his elegant portraits gained him the patronage of…