Artwork
Bildnis eines Mannes (Art des)
Bildnis eines Mannes (Art des) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck. It dates from 1631 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, a Haarlem‑based painter active in the early seventeenth century, executed this portrait in 1631. The work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s focus on individual representation and is presently displayed in the Alte Pinakothek’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is a middle‑aged man dressed in a black coat with a white collar and a wide‑brimmed hat. He holds a folded sheet in his right hand while his left rests on his chest, presenting a composed, solemn demeanor that underscores his social standing rather than personal character.
Technique & Style
Rendered in monochrome tones, the painting relies on strong contrasts between light and shadow to model the face and attire, a hallmark of chiaroscuro. The background is uniformly dark, directing attention to the meticulous rendering of the subject’s trimmed beard, moustache, and the subtle play of light across his features.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the portrait has remained within European collections, eventually entering the holdings of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. Its attribution to Verspronck aligns with the artist’s known oeuvre of formal, status‑oriented portraits produced for affluent patrons in the Dutch Republic.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck (between 1600 and 1603 – buried 30 June 1662) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter from Haarlem.
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