Artwork

Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man, by Rigaud Hyacinthe, oil, 1697
Portrait of a Man, by Rigaud Hyacinthe, oil, 1697

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Rigaud Hyacinthe. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting titled Portrait of a Man, created by Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1697, portrays an unnamed sitter rendered in oil on canvas.

The painting titled Portrait of a Man, created by Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1697, portrays an unnamed sitter rendered in oil on canvas. As a Baroque portrait, it emphasizes the sitter's dignified presence through formal pose and rich drapery, reflecting contemporary ideals of status and authority. The work's iconography consists solely of the figure himself, a conventional subject in elite portraiture that conveys power and personal identity rather than narrative symbolism. The painting is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1697, this Baroque portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 82.6 cm in height and 65.4 cm in width, presenting a formal depiction of a male subject. The combination of oil and canvas reflects the standard materials for portraiture of this period, resulting in a composition that adheres to the stylistic conventions of late seventeenth-century French Baroque art.

History & Provenance

The painting titled Portrait of a Man was created in 1697 by the French artist Hyacinthe Rigaud. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 82.6 by 65.4 centimetres and is classified as a Baroque portrait. Specific details regarding the original commission or the identity of the sitter are not provided in the available records.

The piece currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No intermediate ownership history or prior exhibition records are detailed in the current sources.

Overview

This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Man, was created by the Catalan-French artist Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1697. Rigaud, a prominent painter of the Baroque era, was particularly recognized for his depictions of French aristocracy. The artwork features an unidentified male sitter and is presently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Portrait of a Man, probably Mathias Lambertus Singendonck (1678-1742), Burgomaster of Nijmegen
Portrait of a Man, probably Mathias Lambertus Singendonck (1678-1742), Burgomaster of Nijmegen, Gerrit Alberts

Artist & collection

Portrait of Rigaud Hyacinthe

Artist

Rigaud Hyacinthe

Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra (Catalan pronunciation:; 18 July 1659 – 29 December 1743), known in French as Hyacinthe Rigaud (pronounced ), was a Catalan-French baroque painter most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of the…

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Rigaud Hyacinthe in 1693-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Man?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Man are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.