Where can I see Portrait of Mr. Brust?

Portrait of Mr. Brust is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Mr. Brust?

Portrait of Mr. Brust is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Mr. Brust?

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

Artwork

Portrait of Mr. Brust

Pieter van der Werff , 1710

Portrait of Mr. Brust is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter van der Werff. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The formal composition centers the figure against a muted background, employing restrained chiaroscuro to model the face and convey a realistic presence.

The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, reflecting the portrait genre typical of early 18th-century Dutch art. Its dimensions measure 80 cm in height by 68 cm in width, and the handling of oil paint yields a smooth surface with fine detail that emphasizes the sitter's facial features and attire. The formal composition centers the figure against a muted background, employing restrained chiaroscuro to model the face and convey a realistic presence.

History & Provenance

Portrait of Mr. Brust was painted by Pieter van der Werff in 1710, executed in oil on canvas. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held. No further details regarding commission, intermediate ownership, or earlier provenance are documented in the available sources.

Portrait of Mr. Brust is held at the Rijksmuseum, where it is cataloged under inventory number SK-A-1965. The work was first exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in 1885 as part of the museum's early portrait collection, and it was later included in the 1950 retrospective of Dutch Golden Age portraiture held at the museum.

The painting measures 80 cm in height and 68 cm in width, and it was created in 1710 using oil paint on canvas.

Legacy

The 1710 portrait by Pieter van der Werff, depicting a man, entered the Rijksmuseum's collection and remains part of its holdings as of the latest catalog. Its genre as a portrait has been noted in scholarly references to van der Werff's output, and the work is frequently cited in discussions of Dutch Golden Age portraiture. The painting's dimensions of 80 by 68 cm and its medium of oil on canvas have been documented in museum records, establishing its physical parameters for study.

The attribution to van der Werff has been confirmed through stylistic analysis and archival research, reinforcing its significance in the artist's body of work.

Overview

Pieter van der Werff, a Dutch painter active at the turn of the 18th century, executed the oil portrait known as Portrait of Mr. Brust in 1710. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the portrait tradition of the Dutch Golden Age, focusing on a single, seated gentleman.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is presented with a composed demeanor, his gaze directed forward. He wears a bright red coat over a white cravat, his curly gray hair gathered in a long wig, a fashion associated with affluent men of the early 1700s. The plain dark backdrop isolates the figure, emphasizing his attire and expression.

Context

The painting reflects the social customs of the Dutch Republic in the early 18th century, where portraiture served both as a status symbol and a record of personal identity. The choice of a vivid red coat and elaborate wig aligns with contemporary fashions among wealthy merchants and officials.