Artwork
Portrait of a man aged 33
Portrait of a man aged 33 is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Herman van der Mast. It dates from 1595 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1595 by Dutch Renaissance painter Herman van der Mast, *Portrait of a man aged 33* is an oil painting characterized by its Mannerist style. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a solemn, 33-year-old man dressed in a black robe with a high white collar. One hand holds a folded paper, while the other rests on a lace cuff, conveying an air of contemplation or intellectualism.
Technique & Style
Van der Mast employed chiaroscuro to create strong light and dark contrasts, sharply defining the subject's face against a plain, dark background. This technique, typical of Mannerist portraiture, focuses attention on the sitter.
History & Provenance
Trained under Frans Floris and influenced by his later collaboration with Frans Francken the Elder, Van der Mast's *Portrait of a man aged 33* reflects his artistic lineage. The Rijksmuseum currently holds the painting in its collection.
Context
As a Mannerist work, the portrait aligns with the 16th-century European artistic trend emphasizing emotional intensity and dramatic lighting, often used in portraiture to convey the sitter's character.
Artist & collection
Artist
Herman van der Mast (c. 1550 – 1610) was a Dutch Renaissance painter from the Netherlands. What little we know about Mast are the notes related by Karel van Mander in his Schilder-boeck, who mentioned him as part of a…
