Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an unspecified painting by Louis Mettling. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
You see a young man sitting in profile, wearing a metal shirt, a wide-brimmed hat, and resting both hands on the hilt of a sword.
You see a young man sitting in profile, wearing a metal shirt, a wide-brimmed hat, and resting both hands on the hilt of a sword.
No one knows who painted it or when exactly, just that it was made sometime between 1870 and 1900. The metal shirt, called a halsberg, suggests he’s dressed like a soldier from much earlier, maybe the 1600s. It feels like someone copied an old portrait but didn’t sign it.
To see more paintings like this, visit the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
This untitled painting depicts a seated young man in half-length, dressed in historical military attire.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is shown in profile, wearing a metal shirt, or halsberg, and a wide-brimmed hat, with both hands resting on the hilt of a sword, evoking a sense of a soldier from an earlier era, possibly the 17th century.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by its representational style, suggesting a possible influence from earlier portraiture.
History & Provenance
The painting's creation is dated to between 1870 and 1900, but its artist remains unknown. The work may be a copy of an earlier portrait.
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Artist & collection
