Portrait of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel

About this work

This portrait depicts a man with dark hair and a beard, wearing a black jacket with a white ruffled collar and cuffs. He sits in a red chair, holding a book in his right hand and resting his left hand on his lap. The background features a dark curtain on the left and a landscape with a body of water on the right. The man's attire and the style of the painting suggest a formal portrait from the early 17th century. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark, adds depth and volume to the subject. To learn more about the artist behind this portrait, explore the work of Anthony van Dyck.