Portrait of an unknown man

Key employed oil on panel to achieve a smooth, luminous surface, allowing subtle modelling of flesh tones against the deep background. The contrast between the dark jacket and the bright collar highlights the clothing’s texture, while the restrained palette and careful handling of light reflect the Northern Renaissance’s attention to detail and realism.

Created in 1559, the portrait entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s holdings, where it remains on display. No documented commission or sitter identification survives, and the work has been referenced primarily in catalogues of Key’s oeuvre as an example of his portraiture during the mid‑16th century.