Portrait of a Man
Medium
Oil on wood
Dimensions
Oval, 26 1/4 x 21 5/8 in. (66.7 x 54.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, 1871
Accession Number
71.73
Tags
Art Historical Context
Bartholomeus van der Helst’s *Portrait of a Man* (1647) offers a captivating glimpse into the refined world of 17th-century Dutch portraiture. Painted in oil on an oval wooden panel, the work reflects the period’s growing interest in capturing individual character with warmth and precision. The compact oval format, measuring roughly 26 by 22 inches, was especially favored for intimate likenesses meant to be displayed in private homes, inviting close, personal engagement. Created during the Dutch Golden Age, when the young Republic enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and cultural confidence, such...