Artwork

Portrait of Cornelis Matelieff the Younger, Director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected 1602

Portrait of Cornelis Matelieff the Younger, Director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected 1602 is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1708 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This portrait depicts a man in formal attire, with a dark beard and white ruff collar, set against a plain dark background.

About this work

Overview

This portrait depicts a man in formal attire, with a dark beard and white ruff collar, set against a plain dark background.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is Cornelis Matelieff the Younger, a director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected in 1602. His serious expression and rich clothing, including a fur-trimmed sleeve, convey a sense of importance and status.

Technique & Style

The artist's use of chiaroscuro, evident in the play of light and shadow on the subject's face, creates a sense of depth and dimensionality. The textured fur trim on the sleeve adds to the overall sense of realism and attention to detail.