Artwork
Portrait of Abraham de Potter
Portrait of Abraham de Potter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Carel Fabritius. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Portrait of Abraham de Potter is a 1649 oil on canvas painting by Carel Fabritius, depicting a Amsterdam silk merchant. Measuring 68.5 cm by 57 cm, the work has been part of the Rijksmuseum's collection in Amsterdam since 1892.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Abraham de Potter, is portrayed with solemnity, dressed in a black shirt with a white ruffled collar, and clasped hands. His gaze, directed to the right and into the distance, conveys a sense of introspection or contemplation.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realistic style, the painting showcases meticulous attention to detail in the rendering of clothing folds, hair texture, and the subtle play of light. Fabritius's employment of chiaroscuro adds depth and dimensional complexity to the composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1649, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum's collection in 1892, where it remains to this day, offering insight into 17th-century Dutch portraiture and the life of a silk merchant in Amsterdam.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Carel Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Fabritius (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 27 February 1622 – 12 October 1654) was a Dutch painter. He was a pupil of Rembrandt and worked in his studio in Amsterdam. Fabritius, who was…
Portrait of Andries Bicker
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of Nicolaes Grevinckhoven (1577-1632)
Portrait of Jan Brant
Portrait of François van Aerssen (1572-1641)
Bildnis eines Mannes
Untitled
Portrait of Ewoud Pietersz van der Horst, Director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected 1618
Portrait of Henricus van Zijl (1545-1627)
François van Aerssen (1572-1641), heer van Sommelsdijk, de Plaat en Spijk. Diplomaat in dienst van de Verenigde Nederlanden
Portrait of the painter Theodor Rombouts
Portrait of a gentleman