Who painted Portrait of a Young Gentleman?

Portrait of a Young Gentleman was painted by Carel de Moor in 1704.

Where can I see Portrait of a Young Gentleman?

Portrait of a Young Gentleman is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of a Young Gentleman?

Portrait of a Young Gentleman is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a Young Gentleman

Carel de Moor , 1704

Portrait of a Young Gentleman is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Carel de Moor. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1704, this oil painting depicts a young gentleman rendered with meticulous attention to texture and light.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1704, this oil painting depicts a young gentleman rendered with meticulous attention to texture and light. Executed by Carel de Moor, a Dutch artist active during the Golden Age, the work exemplifies his focus on portraiture. The canvas is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is presented in elaborate attire: a dark brown coat edged in gold, a white lace collar, and a blue sash across the chest. His long, curled hair frames a composed expression, while one arm rests on the back of a chair, suggesting a poised, perhaps aristocratic, presence within an interior setting.

Technique & Style

De Moor employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the light to strike the face and the folds of the coat, while deeper shadows model the surrounding space. This contrast creates a convincing sense of volume, making the fabric appear tactile and the figure three-dimensional against a muted background.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in institutional hands, ultimately entering the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop, where de Moor, a former pupil of Gerard Dou, produced works for private patrons during the early eighteenth century.

Context

Operating within the Dutch Golden Age, de Moor inherited the meticulous realism of his teacher Dou, yet adapted it to early‑1700s tastes for refined portraiture. The inclusion of a storm‑laden sky visible through a window reflects contemporary interests in atmospheric effects and the symbolic juxtaposition of interior order with external turbulence.

Artist & collection

Artist

Carel de Moor

Carel de Moor (25 February 1655 – 16 February 1738) was a Dutch Golden Age etcher and painter. He was a pupil of the Dutch Golden Age painter Gerard Dou.