Artwork
Retrato de enano
Retrato de enano is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist John Closterman. It dates from 1693 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Retrato de enano is a 17th-century oil painting by John Closterman, a portrait artist from Westphalia. The work is part of the Museo del Prado's collection in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts an unidentified man dressed in elaborate attire, holding a white cockatoo. His rich clothing and the exotic bird suggest a connection to the nobility or upper classes, although his identity remains unknown.
Technique & Style
Executed in the Flemish Baroque style, the portrait features a play of light and shadow, with the subject's ornate clothing and the bird rendered in detail against a soft, natural background.
History & Provenance
Dated to the late 17th century, the painting is attributed to 1693, although some sources suggest it may have been created in the 1680s. Closterman was known for painting European nobility, but the subject of this portrait remains unnamed.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Closterman (also spelt Cloosterman, Klosterman; 1660 – 24 May 1711 (buried)) was a Westphalian portrait painter of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His subjects were mostly European noblemen and their families.
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