Who painted The Old Soldier?

The Old Soldier was painted by Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet in 1647.

Where can I see The Old Soldier?

The Old Soldier is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is The Old Soldier?

The Old Soldier is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

The Old Soldier

Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet , 1647

The Old Soldier is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1647, *The Old Soldier* is an oil painting by Dutch artist Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet, best known for his depictions of church interiors. Unlike his usual subjects, this work belongs to the genre‑scene tradition, presenting a quiet domestic interior populated by three figures. The canvas is part of the permanent collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the composition sits an elderly man with a white beard and a black hat, his hand extended toward a small object on the table. A younger companion and a woman in a headscarf attend to papers nearby, suggesting a moment of shared attention—perhaps the veteran’s recounting of past experiences or the examination of a document.

Technique & Style

Van Vliet employs pronounced chiaroscuro, illuminating the old man’s face while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast sharpens the expression and draws the viewer’s eye to the central figure. The cluttered surface—tools, papers, and a modest table—adds realism and reinforces the intimate, everyday atmosphere typical of mid‑17th‑century Dutch genre painting.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in the public domain since its acquisition by the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is displayed among other Dutch Golden Age works. Its presence in a national collection underscores the museum’s commitment to representing the breadth of van Vliet’s oeuvre beyond his celebrated architectural interiors.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet

Hendrick Corneliszoon van Vliet (1611/1612, Delft – buried October 28, 1675, Delft) was a Dutch Golden Age painter remembered mostly for his church interiors.