Artwork
Portrait of a man
Portrait of a man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Frans Hals. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses entirely on the man, presenting him as the main subject without additional narrative context or allegorical figures.
The work depicts a specific individual identified as Francois Woutersz, a Dutch gentleman portrayed in 1643 by Frans Hals. As a formal portrait, the painting captures the sitter wearing a hat and holding a glove, attributes that signify his social standing and status as a member of the gentry. The composition focuses entirely on the man, presenting him as the main subject without additional narrative context or allegorical figures.
The piece serves as a direct representation of a 17th-century Haarlem resident, emphasizing the individual's identity and attire rather than symbolic storytelling.
Technique & Style
Frans Hals painted this portrait in oil on canvas, working on a support measuring 115 by 86.1 cm. The medium and handling are consistent with Hals's characteristic approach to portraiture, employing oil paint with a direct, fluid technique that captures the sitter's presence. The work depicts a gentleman, identified as Francois Woutersz, wearing a hat and glove, typical attributes of Dutch civic portraiture of the period. Hals's execution in this 1643 painting demonstrates his mastery of capturing texture and character through economical, vigorous brushwork.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created by Frans Hals in Haarlem, with a specific inception date of 1643. The work depicts Francois Woutersz and is executed in oil paint on canvas. It entered the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland through the accession number NG 691.
The painting was acquired via a presentation by William McEwan in 1885. While some records date the work to the range of c.1643–1645, the canonical creation year is established as 1643.
The painting is held by the Scottish National Gallery, part of the National Galleries of Scotland collection. Its accession number is NG 691. The work entered the collection in 1885 as a presentation from William McEwan.
The painting is catalogued by Art UK under the title "A Dutch Gentleman" and dated c.1643–1645. It is executed in oil on canvas and measures 115 × 86.1 cm.
Overview
Portrait of a man is a 1643 oil painting by Frans Hals, a prominent Dutch painter. The work is held in the Scottish National Gallery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Hals the Elder (UK: US:; Dutch:; c. 1582 – 26 August 1666) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He lived and worked in Haarlem, a city in which the local authority of the day frowned on religious painting in places of…
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