Artwork
The Hermit
The Hermit is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Frans van Mieris the Younger. It dates from 1721 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The compact dimensions and choice of panel support align with the artist's practice of producing finely detailed cabinet paintings intended for close viewing.
Created in 1721 by Frans van Mieris the Younger, The Hermit is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. The work measures 16 cm in height and 14 cm in width, characterizing it as a small-scale devotional image. Stylistically, the piece is classified within the genre of religious art, specifically depicting a hermit as its central subject.
The compact dimensions and choice of panel support align with the artist's practice of producing finely detailed cabinet paintings intended for close viewing.
History & Provenance
The Hermit is an oil painting on panel created in 1721 by the Dutch artist Frans van Mieris the Younger. The work depicts a hermit and is classified as religious art. Historical records indicate that the painting was once owned by Gerrit van der Pot. Today, the artwork is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.
The Hermit, an oil painting on panel created by Frans van Mieris the Younger in 1721, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work depicts a hermit and measures 16 cm in height by 14 cm in width. Historical records indicate the painting was previously owned by Gerrit van der Pot.
The provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any exhibition history for the artwork.
Overview
Frans van Mieris the Younger, a Leiden‑born Dutch painter active in the early 18th century, completed the oil painting The Hermit in 1721. The work belongs to the religious genre and reflects the decorative sensibilities of the Rococo period. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection, where it is displayed among other Dutch Baroque and Rococo pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays an elderly hermit seated at a modest table, his hands clasped in prayer and his gaze lifted upward. He wears a dark habit with a white collar, his beard rendered in muted tones. Objects on the table, a skull, a book, and a small plant, suggest contemplation of mortality, learning, and the fleeting nature of life, while a cross bound to a nearby tree reinforces the spiritual context.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frans van Mieris the Younger (24 November 1689 – 22 October 1763) was a Dutch painter.
