Who painted The Falconer?

The Falconer was painted by Christoffel Bisschop in 1850-01-01.

Where can I see The Falconer?

The Falconer is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is The Falconer?

The Falconer is associated with Biedermeier.

Can I buy a print of The Falconer?

Museum-quality prints of The Falconer are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Falconer

Christoffel Bisschop , 1850

The Falconer is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Christoffel Bisschop. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

History & Provenance

The painting entered the museum through the 1950 acquisition from the estate of Reinhard, Baron van Lynden.

Christoffel Bisschop created the oil painting The Falconer in 1850. Executed on canvas, the work measures 80 cm in height and 68 cm in width. The portrait depicts a falconer and was at one point owned by Reinhard, Baron van Lynden. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

The Falconer is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

It is inventoried as SK-C-1056. The painting entered the museum through the 1950 acquisition from the estate of Reinhard, Baron van Lynden.

The work has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in the 2016 presentation “Highlights from the Rijksmuseum.”

Legacy

The Falconer by Christoffel Bisschop, painted in 1850, entered the collection of Reinhard, Baron van Lynden before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. Its status as a portrait genre work in oil on canvas contributed to renewed scholarly attention to Bisschop’s portraiture in the late nineteenth century, though documentation of its specific influence on later artists remains sparse.

Overview

Christoffel Bisschop’s oil work The Falconer, executed circa 1850, belongs to the Dutch Biedermeier tradition. The composition centers on a solitary figure holding a trained bird, rendered with restrained colour and a subdued background. The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the modest, domestic focus characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century Dutch portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas presents a man in a dark, high‑collared jacket, his face softened and expression neutral, as he gazes outward while a falcon rests on his left hand. The bird, identifiable by its red hood and hooked beak, underscores themes of control, leisure, and the aristocratic pastime of falconry, suggesting a quiet moment of contemplation rather than action.

Technique & Style

Bisschop employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, allowing light to fall on the collar and the bird’s plumage while the surrounding brown backdrop recedes into shadow. The brushwork is smooth, emphasizing the texture of the fabrics and the glossy sheen of the falcon’s feathers, creating a sense of three‑dimensionality within a restrained colour palette.