Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Baroque.

Portrait of a Man (mid 17th century) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Technique & Style

Classified as a portrait from the French 17th century, the piece depicts a male subject.

Created circa 1650, this work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The painting measures 58.4 centimetres in height and 47 centimetres in width. Classified as a portrait from the French 17th century, the piece depicts a male subject.

As a canvas-based oil painting from this period, it represents the standard material and technical practices of French portraiture in the mid-seventeenth century. The work is currently held in the Andrew W. Mellon collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1650, this French 17th-century oil on canvas portrait was initially owned by Rose M. de Forest (Mrs. Augustus de Forest). It was sold on August 2, 1922, to Thomas B. Clarke of New York. Following Clarke's death in 1931, his heirs sold the work through M. Knoedler & Co. in New York on January 29, 1936, to the A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust in Pittsburgh.

The painting was subsequently gifted to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1947, where it remains part of the Andrew W. Mellon collection. The provenance details regarding the 1922 sale were corroborated by a 1928 Clarke exhibition catalogue annotated with records from M. Knoedler & Co.

Overview

This oil on canvas, titled Portrait of a Man, presents a seated male figure. The composition emphasizes his face, conveying a sense of quiet introspection. The artist's use of a restrained palette contributes to the painting's overall serene and intimate atmosphere, inviting close contemplation of the subject.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a man in a formal, seated posture, dressed in period attire. His gaze and serious demeanor are central to the work, drawing the viewer's attention directly to his expression. This focus on the individual's inner state, combined with the subdued emotional tone, fosters a feeling of personal connection and quiet dignity within the portrait.