Where can I see Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646)?

Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646) is held by Mauritshuis.

What movement is Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646)?

Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646)?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646)

Jan van Ravesteyn , 1611

Portrait of an officer, possibly Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Ravesteyn. It dates from 1611 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.

About this work

Overview

Jan van Ravesteyn’s oil portrait, dated 1611, presents a heavily armored figure against a dark backdrop. The work, now part of the Mauritshuis collection, exemplifies the portraiture commissioned for the Dutch court during the early seventeenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown in a black leather cuirass trimmed with gold and a vivid red sash, his white collar contrasting sharply with the metal. He holds a feather‑adorned helmet, suggesting a martial identity. Although the portrait has been linked to Gaspard III de Coligny, a French noble who entered Dutch service, the exact identification remains scholarly conjecture.

Technique & Style

Van Ravesteyn employs chiaroscuro to model the armor’s folds and reflective surfaces, creating a three‑dimensional effect that separates the figure from the somber background. Fine brushwork renders the intricate ornamentation on the cuirass, highlighting the artist’s meticulous approach to material texture.

History & Provenance

Executed in the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the painting reflects the cross‑national connections of the period, depicting a French aristocrat who later served the Dutch military. It entered the Mauritshuis collection at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s early‑modern Dutch portrait holdings.

Context

The portrait aligns with a broader trend of courtly military portraiture in the Netherlands, where artists catered to patrons seeking to emphasize rank, loyalty, and martial prowess. Van Ravesteyn’s work parallels contemporary depictions of officers in elaborate armor, underscoring the visual language of status in the early 1600s.