Artwork
Portrait of a man

Portrait of a man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelis van der Voort. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. An oil painting from the mid‑17th century portrays a bearded gentleman set against a dark backdrop.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a single male figure, characterized by a beard and a ruff collar, standing as the primary subject of the portrait.
The work depicts a single male figure, characterized by a beard and a ruff collar, standing as the primary subject of the portrait. The painting focuses entirely on the individual's likeness without incorporating additional narrative scenes, allegorical figures, or specific symbolic objects beyond the attire. The visual emphasis remains on the man's facial features and the formal dress of the period, typical of Dutch seventeenth-century portraiture in its intent to capture the sitter's presence and status.
Technique & Style
This portrait was executed in oil paint on a wooden panel. The work measures 72 cm in height by 60.5 cm in width and depicts a man with a ruff and beard. It belongs to the portrait genre and is dated 1648.
The painting's surface is consistent with seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture, with brushwork that models the sitter's facial features and fabric folds in a direct, three-quarter view composition.
History & Provenance
This oil-on-panel portrait of a bearded man wearing a ruff is dated 1648. The work is attributed to Cornelis van der Voort in the museum's records; however, as van der Voort died in 1624, the attribution warrants caution and the work may be by a follower or a different hand. The painting measures 72 cm in height and 60.5 cm in width and is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is associated with the Royal Dutch Antiquarian Society.
Context
This portrait, dated 1648, exemplifies Dutch Golden Age portraiture through its formal composition and detailed rendering of attire such as the subject's ruff and beard. Depicting a man in a manner that reflects contemporary bourgeois identity, the work situates itself within the trajectory of seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture, a genre characterized by psychological depth and meticulous attention to material texture. Its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection underscores its recognized significance within the canon of Dutch art history.
Overview
An oil painting from the mid‑17th century portrays a bearded gentleman set against a dark backdrop. The sitter wears a broad, white ruff that frames his face, which is rendered with a serious expression. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and exemplifies the portraiture that dominated Dutch art during its Golden Age.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van der Voort or van der Voorde (c. 1576 – buried on 2 November 1624) was a Dutch portrait painter, art collector, art appraiser and art dealer from the early 17th century who was active in Amsterdam. He…












