Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Cornelis Troost. It dates from 1723 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis Troost’s oil painting from 1723 presents a single male figure rendered in the Rococo period’s aesthetic. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s skill in portraiture, focusing on a solitary sitter whose gaze meets the viewer directly.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears in formal 18th‑century dress, complete with a white wig, a red velvet cloak, and a brown vest beneath a billowing white shirt. His expression is solemn, and his posture—right hand extended, left arm resting on a ledge—conveys a sense of dignity and introspection, inviting contemplation of his identity and status.
Technique & Style
Troost employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, using contrasts of light and shadow to give the face a three‑dimensional quality. The background features a muted, wooded landscape under a cloudy sky, rendered in darker tones that enhance the figure’s illumination and reinforce the painting’s overall somber mood.
History & Provenance
Created in 1723, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Troost aligns with his known output during the early 18th century, and the work reflects the artist’s engagement with contemporary portrait conventions within the Rococo framework.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Troost (8 October 1696 – 7 March 1750) was a Dutch actor and painter from Amsterdam.
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