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Portrait of William I of Orange

Unknown

1550

unspecified

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of William I of Orange is a 1550 unspecified by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1550
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man wearing a dark, patterned hat and a high white collar. He has a short beard and mustache, and his expression is serious. Behind him, there’s a dark background with two ornate, carved wooden chairs on either side. The man’s clothing and the chairs suggest he was someone important, possibly a leader. The way the light hits his face and collar creates a strong contrast, which is a common painting trick. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how this lighting effect works in other art.