Artwork
Portrait of a Man Holding a Watch
Portrait of a Man Holding a Watch is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting from 1670, titled Portrait of a Man Holding a Watch, was created by Pieter Cornelisz.
This oil painting from 1670, titled Portrait of a Man Holding a Watch, was created by Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt, a prominent Dutch Golden Age artist. The work depicts a male figure in a formal pose, prominently displaying a timepiece. This finely rendered portrait is currently part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a characteristic example of the artist's detailed approach to portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a man with curly brown hair and a serious demeanor, dressed in a dark maroon jacket over a white shirt with an elaborate lace collar. His right hand holds a small, round pocket watch, distinguished by its dark face and metal casing. During the seventeenth century, such timepieces were luxury items, serving as a clear indicator of the sitter's affluence and social standing rather than merely a functional object.
Technique & Style
Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt was recognized as one of Leiden's fijnschilders, a group known for their meticulous attention to detail and smooth finish. This portrait exemplifies his refined technique, evident in the precise rendering of the man's attire and the intricate watch. The artist employs a dark, unadorned background, which serves to emphasize the figure and his attributes, while the subtle interplay of light and shadow adds depth to the composition. The painting shows some signs of age, common for works of this period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt
Pieter Cornelisz van Slingelandt (20 October 1640 – 7 November 1691) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter who had been a pupil of Gerard Dou and is known as one of Leiden's fijnschilders.
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