Artwork
Old Man with a Gold Chain
Old Man with a Gold Chain is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1631 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1631, this oil on canvas portrait is attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn and is part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection. The work measures roughly 32 by 30 inches and depicts a middle‑aged man turned slightly to the viewer’s right, set against a dark, unadorned background.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is identified as Harmen Gerritsz van Rijn, Rembrandt’s father, dressed in a dark purple cloak with a gold chain and medallion, a steel gorget, and a pearl earring. The attire and accessories suggest a status of modest authority, while the solemn expression conveys a dignified, introspective character.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, lighting the face from the side to accentuate the beard, curls, and the texture of the hat’s black feather. The brushwork is tight in the facial details yet looser in the drapery, illustrating his early mastery of tonal contrast and material rendering.
History & Provenance
Documented by Hofstede de Groot in 1915, the painting passed through several European dealers, including C. Sedelmeyer in Paris, before entering American collections such as those of W. H. Beers and S. Neumann. It was sold at auctions in London (1886, 1902) and Frankfurt (1914) and exhibited in Düsseldorf in 1912.
Context
The portrait belongs to Rembrandt’s early period, when he was establishing his reputation for realistic, psychologically nuanced likenesses. Its composition—half‑length, hands omitted, and a focus on facial expression—reflects contemporary Dutch portrait conventions while hinting at the artist’s developing personal style.
Legacy
Scholars such as Gary Schwartz have identified a second, near‑identical version as an autograph replica by Rembrandt himself, underscoring the work’s significance in studies of the master’s studio practices and the circulation of his images in the 17th‑century art market.
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.
