Artwork

Portrait of a Seated Man

Portrait of a Seated Man, by Jacobus Buys, ink, 1771
Portrait of a Seated Man, by Jacobus Buys, ink, 1771

Portrait of a Seated Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jacobus Buys. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1771 print by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel is a mezzotint portrait of a seated man.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a man with curly hair, a mustache, and beard, wearing a long coat with buttons and a high collar, seated against a dark background with a hint of draped fabric.

Technique & Style

The mezzotint technique involves scraping tiny grooves into a metal plate to create shading, allowing for rich dark areas. This method differs from others, such as cross-hatching, in its approach to achieving tonal variations.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacobus Buys

Artist

Jacobus Buys

Jacobus Buys (1726–1798) was an artist, born in Weesp.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.