Artwork
Portrait of Cornelis van Poelenburgh
Portrait of Cornelis van Poelenburgh is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Anthony van Dyck. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Executed in 1633, this oil on canvas presents a half-length portrait of the Dutch painter Cornelis van Poelenburgh.
About this work
If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this painting, you can look up Anthony van Dyck.
This painting is a portrait of a man with curly hair, wearing a dark jacket with a white collar. The background is a plain wall. The man is looking at the viewer with a neutral expression.
The man's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it is from the 17th century. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the portrait.
If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this painting, you can look up Anthony van Dyck.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the Dutch painter Cornelis van Poelenburgh, who is identified as the main subject of this 1633 portrait by Anthony van Dyck. As a formal portrait, the painting functions primarily as a representation of the artist himself, capturing his likeness during the early 1630s. The sources do not attribute specific symbolic attributes, iconographic details, or deeper allegorical meanings to the image beyond the direct depiction of the sitter.
Technique & Style
Created in 1633, the Portrait of Cornelis van Poelenburgh is executed in oil paint on a panel support. Measuring 20.5 cm in height and 15 cm in width, the work is a compact portrait by Anthony van Dyck. The painting depicts Cornelius van Poelenburgh and is classified within the portrait genre. It is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
Created in 1633 by Anthony van Dyck, the Portrait of Cornelis van Poelenburgh is an oil painting on panel measuring 20.5 cm in height and 15 cm in width. The work depicts the artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. While the specific commission details and early ownership chain are not detailed in the provided records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Portrait of Cornelis van Poelenburgh is held at the Statens Museum for Kunst under inventory number KMS1845. It was created by Anthony van Dyck in 1633 as an oil paint on panel portrait. The work has been exhibited at Documenta 6 and the 1953 Venice Biennale.
Overview
Executed in 1633, this oil on canvas presents a half-length portrait of the Dutch painter Cornelis van Poelenburgh. The sitter faces the viewer with a composed, neutral gaze, his curly hair framed by a dark coat and crisp white collar against an unadorned wall. The work exemplifies the restrained elegance typical of early‑17th‑century portraiture.
Context
At the time of this work, van Dyck was establishing his reputation within the artistic circles of the Spanish Netherlands, having apprenticed with Peter Paul Rubens. The portrait aligns with contemporary Flemish practices that favored individualized representation over allegorical content, reflecting the growing importance of personal patronage among artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Anthony van Dyck (; Dutch: Antoon van Dijck; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist, who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy.
