Artwork
Portret van een 73-jarige man
Portret van een 73-jarige man is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist Joseph Marinkelle. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
This small oval portrait, executed in 1792 by Joseph Marinkelle, presents an elderly gentleman rendered on a carved piece of ivory. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures only a few centimeters across, emphasizing its intimate scale.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is an older man with a pale complexion, his hair fashioned into a wavy white wig. He is dressed in a black coat and a white cravat, his expression calm yet slightly serious, suggesting a dignified, perhaps retired, status.
Technique & Style
Marinkelle employed direct carving into ivory, a medium noted for its fragility and rarity in portraiture. Through delicate gradations of shading, the artist achieved a subtle three‑dimensionality, while the dark, unadorned background enhances the figure’s prominence.
History & Provenance
Created in the late eighteenth century, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its survival in such a delicate material underscores careful conservation and the museum’s commitment to preserving unique works on ivory.
Artist & collection
