Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Corneille de Lyon. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
The man's attire suggests that he may be from the 16th century, and the style of the painting is reminiscent of the work of Corneille de Lyon.
This painting features a man with a mustache and short brown hair, wearing a black hat and a black shirt with a high collar. The background is a dark green color.
The man's attire suggests that he may be from the 16th century, and the style of the painting is reminiscent of the work of Corneille de Lyon.
The level of detail in the painting, particularly in the man's face and clothing, suggests that the artist used a technique such as chiaroscuro to create depth and dimension. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique next.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, measuring 20 cm in height and 17.2 cm in width.
Stylistically, the work exemplifies Corneille de Lyon’s characteristic approach to portraiture, featuring a restrained palette and precise, delicate handling. The sitter is rendered with meticulous attention to facial features and costume details, set against a neutral background that emphasizes the subject’s presence. The technique relies on fine, controlled brushwork to define form and texture, particularly in the handling of the face and the delicate folds of the clothing.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Man is an oil-on-panel painting created by Corneille de Lyon in 1550. This work, which depicts a man, is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The piece measures 20 cm in height and 17.2 cm in width.
Portrait of a Man, painted by Corneille de Lyon in 1550, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is executed in oil paint on panel and measures 20 by 17.2 cm. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Created around 1550, this oil painting presents a half‑length portrait of a gentleman rendered in the restrained manner typical of mid‑sixteenth‑century French court portraiture. The work is part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is displayed among other examples of Northern Renaissance portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with a neatly trimmed moustache, short brown hair, and a dark hat, dressed in a black, high‑collared shirt. The plain, dark green backdrop isolates the figure, focusing attention on his facial expression and attire, which together convey a sense of modest status and personal dignity without overt symbolism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Corneille de Lyon was a Dutch painter of portraits who was active in Lyon, France, from 1533 until his death. In France and the Netherlands he is also still known as Corneille de La Haye after his birthplace, The Hague.
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