Portrait of a Man
Anthony van Dyck
c. 1620
Anthony van Dyck was one of the most celebrated portraitists of his time. His portraits flattered his patrons. Moreover, as in this one, he imbued them with aristocratic allure and an elegant, studied carelessness. The latter impression is reinforced by his loose painting style. Unfortunately, we do not know who the sitter is, but Van Dyck brings us face to face with a real-life human being.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Image: Rijksmuseum, Public domain · Text: Rijksmuseum, CC0