Artwork
Stephanus Geeraerdts Alderman in Haarlem
Stephanus Geeraerdts Alderman in Haarlem is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Frans Hals. It dates from 1644 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
This oil on canvas portrait depicts Stephanus Geeraerdts, an alderman of Haarlem, painted by Frans Hals around 1650-1652 when the artist was approximately 70 years old.
Subject & Meaning
The painting is part of a pair of wedding portraits, with the companion piece portraying Geeraerdts' wife, Isabella Coymans. The couple married in 1644, and the portraits were likely created six to seven years later.
Technique & Style
Geeraerdts is shown seated, wearing formal attire with lace cuffs and a white collar, his long brown hair parted in the middle. The dark background emphasizes his features, conveying dignity and importance.
History & Provenance
The pair of portraits has been separated since 1886, with Isabella Coymans' portrait now in a private collection in Paris.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Hals the Elder (UK: , US: ; Dutch: ; c. 1582 – 26 August 1666) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He lived and worked in Haarlem, a city in which the local authority of the day frowned on religious painting in places…
