Portret van Gerard Dou

About this artwork

onderschrift, recto linksonder, geschreven: ‘4ste proef’

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Gerard Dou** a delicate etching by Dutch artist Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet created in 1851. Measuring just 184 mm wide by 131 mm high, this intimate portrait honors Gerard Dou (1613–1675), the renowned master of the Dutch Golden Age and a leading fijnschilder—known for his exquisitely detailed, luminous genre scenes and portraits. Cornet, a skilled 19th-century engraver captures Dou's likeness with precision, reflecting a revival of interest in the Baroque-era masters during the Romantic period. Etching, Cornet's chosen medium, involves drawing acid-resistant lines on a metal plate, allowing the acid to etch intricate details into the surface for inking and printing. This work bears the inscription "4ste proef" (4th proof) in the lower left recto, indicating an early trial impression from the plate—valuable for artists refining their composition before the final edition. Such proofs offer glimpses into the printmaking process, showcasing evolving line work and tonal subtleties. In the context of 19th-century Dutch art, this portrait underscores enduring admiration for Golden Age virtuosity, bridging centuries through reproductive prints. Visitors will appreciate its technical finesse and role in preserving artistic legacies in a compact, accessible form.

About the Artist

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet · 1815–1882

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet (1815–1882) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and museum curator whose career bridged artistic practice and cultural preservation. Born in Leiden in 1815, Cornet devoted his life to documenting Dutch history and culture through his paintings and drawings while simultaneously working to preserve the nation's artistic heritage as head of Leiden's Prentenkabinet (Prints Cabin...