Artwork
Portrait of an Old Man. Christian Jacobsen Drakenberg (?)
Portrait of an Old Man. Christian Jacobsen Drakenberg (?) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Karel van Mander III. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its support is a wooden panel, prepared for oil paint, which was the standard medium for portraiture in mid-seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish traditions.
The work is an oil painting on panel, measuring 64.5 cm in height and 49 cm in width, completed in 1647. Its support is a wooden panel, prepared for oil paint, which was the standard medium for portraiture in mid-seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish traditions. The handling reflects the period’s emphasis on lifelike representation, with carefully modeled facial features and subtle transitions in light and shadow to convey volume and character.
The composition is restrained, focusing on the sitter’s head and shoulders, consistent with portrait conventions of the time.
History & Provenance
The portrait, attributed to Karel van Mander III, was created in 1647. Executed in oil on panel, the work depicts an unidentified man and is currently held by the Statens Museum for Kunst. The painting measures 64.5 cm in height and 49 cm in width.
While the title suggests the sitter may be Christian Jacobsen Drakenberg, the provided sources do not confirm this identification or offer details regarding a specific commission, the original owner, or the subsequent chain of custody leading to the museum's acquisition.
The painting is held by the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is listed under inventory number NG M 1190. It was created in 1647 as an oil paint portrait on panel, depicting a man. The work has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition and is included in the institution's permanent displays of European portraiture.
Overview
The work is an oil painting executed in 1647 by the Dutch artist Karel van Mander III. It portrays an elderly male figure rendered against an unadorned dark background, which emphasizes the sitter’s facial features. The canvas is part of the collection of Denmark’s national gallery, the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents a man with a long white beard, deep facial lines, and a solemn expression, suggesting age and experience. His attire is modest, a dark garment with a light‑colored collar, indicating a lack of ostentation. The direct gaze and slight frown convey a dignified, perhaps contemplative, presence, typical of portraiture intended to record personal identity.
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