Artwork
Portrait of an elderly man
Portrait of an elderly man is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jan van Scorel. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1530, this oil portrait presents an elderly gentleman rendered by Jan van Scorel. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and measures the subject from the chest upward, set against a subdued green backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, an aged man with white hair, dons a black hat and a coat trimmed in brown and white fur over a black shirt and white undergarment. His downcast eyes and neutral expression convey a contemplative, dignified presence, emphasizing introspection over narrative.
Technique & Style
Van Scorel employs careful modeling of the face, highlighting wrinkles and age spots with fine brushwork, while the fur trim is built up in thick, textured strokes that give the fabric a tactile quality. The muted palette and restrained lighting enhance the portrait’s quiet tone.
History & Provenance
The painting has remained in the German capital’s Gemäldegalerie collection, where it is displayed among other works from the Northern Renaissance. Its attribution to van Scorel has been accepted since early catalogues of the museum’s holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Scorel was a Dutch painter, who played a leading role in introducing aspects of Italian Renaissance painting into Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting.
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