Portrait of a Gentleman
1680
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
47 × 38.1 cm (18 1/2 × 15 in.); Framed: 64.8 × 56.5 × 6.4 cm (25 1/2 × 22 1/4 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
oil on canvas
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
16394
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In the nascent Dutch Republic, portraits emphasized the prestige of the increasingly prosperous middle and upper classes. The hilt of the sword on the table suggests that this gentleman held a position in the military, perhaps one with an administrative or legal component, as indicated by the statue in the background of the Roman goddess Justitia, with her scales and sword. The man’s success is demonstrated not only by this large sculpture but also by the golden cloak he wears. Such luxury garme...
About the Artist
Caspar Netscher · 1639–1684
Comment on works: Portraits; Genre; fruit