Who painted Portrait Study?

Portrait Study was painted by Matthijs Maris in 1856-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait Study?

Portrait Study is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait Study?

Portrait Study is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait Study?

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

Portrait Study by Matthijs Maris (1856)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Portrait Study depicts an unidentified human figure, rendered as a portrait study that concentrates on the sitter's facial features and expression.

Portrait Study depicts an unidentified human figure, rendered as a portrait study that concentrates on the sitter's facial features and expression. As a work classified within the portrait genre, its primary aim is to capture the individual's likeness, possibly serving as an exercise in observing physiognomy or conveying a particular mood. No specific iconographic attributes or symbolic elements are described in the sources; the meaning resides in the direct representation of the person and the artist's exploration of human appearance.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, reflecting the mid-19th-century Dutch portrait tradition. Matthijs Maris applied oil paint to the panel surface, a support commonly used during this period for its stability and fine texture. The modest dimensions of 38.5 cm in height and 31.5 cm in width suggest an intimate scale typical of preparatory or study portraits.

The handling of paint demonstrates a restrained technique, emphasizing tonal modulation over expressive brushwork. These formal qualities align with the academic realism practiced by Maris and his contemporaries in the Netherlands.

The painting's condition appears stable, with no noted structural or surface deterioration in available records. Its stylistic features include a subdued palette and careful attention to facial detail, contributing to a lifelike yet introspective presence. The composition focuses on the sitter's expression and posture, characteristic of formal portrait studies from the era.

History & Provenance

Portrait Study was created in 1856 by the Dutch artist Matthijs Maris, working in the Netherlands. The painting is executed in oil on panel and entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is held today. No further details about an earlier ownership chain, a specific commissioner, or the circumstances of its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.

The work's inception date of 1856 marks the beginning of its recorded history, with the Rijksmuseum representing its current and only documented location.

The sources do not record any intermediate owners, dealers, or patrons between the work's creation and its accession by the Rijksmuseum, nor do they identify who commissioned the portrait or the identity of its sitter.

Portrait Study, an 1856 oil painting by Matthijs Maris, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. The work is catalogued as part of the museum's holdings, with its physical dimensions recorded as 38.5 cm in height and 31.5 cm in width, painted on panel. No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded.

Overview

Created in 1856, Portrait Study is an oil painting by Dutch artist Matthijs Maris. Executed during his early career, the work exemplifies his engagement with realistic representation, focusing on a single human figure rendered with careful observation.