Artwork
Bust of an old bearded man with red cap
Bust of an old bearded man with red cap is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. This oil painting presents an elderly, bearded figure wearing a vivid red cap and robe, his gaze lowered in quiet contemplation.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting presents an elderly, bearded figure wearing a vivid red cap and robe, his gaze lowered in quiet contemplation. Set against a deep, shadowed background, the work emphasizes the sitter’s facial features and textured attire through strong contrasts of light and dark. The portrait is part of the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears as a thoughtful, perhaps introspective individual, his long white beard and solemn expression suggesting age and experience. The downward look and muted demeanor invite viewers to consider themes of reflection and the passage of time, common in portraiture of the period.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, using pronounced light and shadow to model the face and fabric, creating a three‑dimensional presence. Fine brushwork renders the beard’s texture and the folds of the red robe, while the dark ground isolates the figure, a hallmark of Dutch Golden Age portraiture.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and dated to around 1850—a later attribution—the painting aligns stylistically with the 17th‑century Dutch Golden Age tradition. It currently resides in the National Gallery of Ireland, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European paintings collection.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
