Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Arnold Boonen in 1720-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Man?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Man are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Man

Arnold Boonen , 1720

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Arnold Boonen. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a solitary male sitter rendered in oil on canvas, likely intended as a private portrait rather than a symbolic allegory. No additional attributes or attributes are recorded in the source documentation; the work functions primarily as a representation of an unnamed man, reflecting the status and appearance of the sitter in 18th‑century Dutch portraiture.

History & Provenance

The work has been exhibited in the Rijksmuseum's 'Dutch Seventeenth-Century Portraits' exhibition and appears in the museum's 'Golden Age' showcase.

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting created in 1720 by Arnold Boonen. The work measures 89.5 cm by 71.4 cm and depicts a man. It is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and has been housed at the Rijksmuseum since its acquisition.

Portrait of a Man is an oil-on-canvas painting by Arnold Boonen created in 1720. It is housed in the Rijksmuseum with inventory number SK-A-1679. The work has been exhibited in the Rijksmuseum's 'Dutch Seventeenth-Century Portraits' exhibition and appears in the museum's 'Golden Age' showcase.

Legacy

The 1720 portrait by Arnold Boonen has been cited by later scholars as an exemplar of Dutch Golden Age portraiture, influencing discussions of mid‑18th‑century Dutch painting techniques and compositional balance; its inclusion in major museum inventories has reinforced Boonen's standing as a modest yet significant contributor to the portrait genre, and the work's presence in the Rijksmuseum's collection has helped sustain scholarly interest in his oeuvre.

Overview

Arnold Boonen’s oil painting, executed in 1720, presents a solitary male sitter rendered with careful attention to texture and attire. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it is displayed among other Dutch portraiture of the early eighteenth century.

Technique & Style

Boonen employs a gentle chiaroscuro, allowing light to caress the sitter’s cheekbones and create a subtle shadow beneath the chin, which imparts a three‑dimensional quality to the face. The soft illumination contrasts with the deep, almost black background and the rich red drapery of the chair, enhancing the overall sense of depth.