Artwork
Portrait of a Man with a Watch
Portrait of a Man with a Watch is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt. It dates from 1688 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This painting depicts a man seated in a stone window, holding a watch.
About this work
Overview
This painting depicts a man seated in a stone window, holding a watch. The scene is rich in detail, with a carved relief below the window and a garden visible in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of the watch with the otherwise antiquated setting may symbolize the passage of time or the subject's desire to be remembered. The watch is the sole modern element in an otherwise traditional scene.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of detail is notable, with sharp rendering of textures and objects, evoking a photographic quality. The style is characterized by its quiet, observational nature.
Context
The painting is part of a tradition of quiet, introspective portraits, examples of which can be found at the Rijksmuseum.
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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