Artwork
Portrait of a 38-Year-Old Man
Portrait of a 38-Year-Old Man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelis van der Voort. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis van der Voort, an Amsterdam‑based portraitist active in the early 1600s, painted this oil work in 1622.
Cornelis van der Voort, an Amsterdam‑based portraitist active in the early 1600s, painted this oil work in 1622. The canvas presents a single male sitter, approximately thirty‑eight years old, rendered in a restrained palette that emphasizes the figure’s attire and expression. The portrait is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection, illustrating van der Voort’s role in shaping Dutch portraiture during the Republic’s formative years.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is depicted in a dark velvet coat adorned with elaborate embroidery, a crisp white ruff, and a broad‑brimmed hat. He rests his left hand on a tabletop while his right hand holds a feathered implement, suggesting literacy or a professional occupation. The composition conveys a sense of dignified presence, typical of the era’s emphasis on status and personal virtue.
Technique & Style
Van der Voort employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark contrasts of light and shadow to model the face and hands, creating a three‑dimensional effect. The brushwork is smooth in the flesh tones yet more textured in the fabric, highlighting the luxurious material of the coat. This handling reflects the transition from Mannerist influences toward a more naturalistic Dutch portrait tradition.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has remained in private and institutional hands, eventually entering the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work exemplifies van der Voort’s prolific output of individual and group portraits, which were in demand among Amsterdam’s mercantile and civic elite during the early seventeenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van der Voort or van der Voorde (c. 1576 – buried on 2 November 1624) was a Dutch portrait painter, art collector, art appraiser and art dealer from the early 17th century who was active in Amsterdam. He…
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