Artwork
Bust of a Bearded Man
Bust of a Bearded Man is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Gerrit Dou. It dates from 1644 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right over sitter's left shoulder, "DOV" in smaller letters: GDOV
About this work
Technique & Style
The panel support was standard for Dutch painters of this period, providing a smooth, stable ground for the layered application of oil pigments.
The Bust of a Bearded Man is an oil painting on panel, executed in 1643 by Gerrit Dou. As a portrait rendered in oil on a wooden support, the work exemplifies the refined technique characteristic of Dou's practice, which was rooted in the Dutch Golden Age tradition of meticulous craftsmanship. The genre classification as portrait indicates a focused representation of an individual subject, consistent with Dou's renowned attention to detail and surface finish.
The panel support was standard for Dutch painters of this period, providing a smooth, stable ground for the layered application of oil pigments.
History & Provenance
Created by Gerrit Dou in 1643, the Bust of a Bearded Man is an oil painting on panel. The work's early ownership history is uncertain, with possible origins tracing to Jacques Ignace de Roore in Antwerp and subsequent appearances in estate sales in The Hague (1747) and Amsterdam (1773). Later 18th-century records suggest passage through Parisian collections, including those of Gilbert Paignon Dijonval and his grandson Charles-Gilbert, vicomte Morel de Vindé, before reaching London.
By the 19th century, the painting was owned by Jeremiah Harman, followed by Robert Clouston in Ireland and James Gottfried von Preyer in Vienna. The work entered the United States when purchased by William A. Clark, who bequeathed it to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1926. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., acquired the painting from the Corcoran in 2014.
The Bust of a Bearded Man is presently housed in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it remains part of the permanent collection. It entered the Corcoran Gallery of Art as a bequest in 1926 and was transferred to the National Gallery of Art in 2014. The cited sources do not provide an inventory or accession number for the painting, nor do they record any publicly exhibited history.
Overview
Gerrit Dou's Bust of a Bearded Man, created around 1644, is an oil on panel painting from the Dutch Golden Age. This portrait exemplifies the artist's meticulous approach, a hallmark of the Leiden fijnschilders school. The work captures a detailed depiction of an individual, showcasing the subtle interplay of light and shadow characteristic of the period's refined artistic tradition.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a close-up view of an elderly man, focusing on his head and shoulders. He is distinguished by a long, flowing white beard and wears a dark hat and jacket, which recede into the somber background. His serious expression and direct gaze engage the viewer, while the careful illumination of his face highlights the intricate details of his features, suggesting a contemplative or observant demeanor.
Context
Gerrit Dou was a prominent painter during the Dutch Golden Age, a period renowned for its artistic innovation. Initially a student of Rembrandt, Dou developed a distinct style, becoming a central figure of the Leiden fijnschilders. This group was celebrated for their small-scale, highly finished paintings, which often featured intricate details and a polished surface. Bust of a Bearded Man aligns with these aesthetic principles, reflecting the era's artistic trends.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Dou (pronounced; 7 April 1613 – 9 February 1675), also known as Gerard Douw or Dow, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, whose small, highly polished paintings are typical of the Leiden fijnschilders.
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