Artwork
Portrait of a Seated Old Man Wearing a Red Hat
Portrait of a Seated Old Man Wearing a Red Hat is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Created circa 1650, this oil painting portrays an elderly gentleman seated against a dark backdrop.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, this oil painting portrays an elderly gentleman seated against a dark backdrop. The work belongs to the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and exemplifies the mature period of a Dutch artist renowned for his portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is an aged man with a flowing white beard, dressed in a white robe and a tall red hat edged with fur. He grips a walking stick in his right hand while his left hand rests calmly on his lap, his gaze directed downward, conveying a solemn, contemplative demeanor.
Technique & Style
The artist employs pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated figure to emerge from the surrounding gloom. Thick, textured brushwork builds the folds of the robe and the fur trim, while delicate modeling renders the facial features, creating a three‑dimensional presence typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch portraiture.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, the painting entered the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s holdings in the early twentieth century. Its provenance traces back to private Dutch collections before being acquired by the museum, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.
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.
