Who painted Portrait of a Seated Man?

Portrait of a Seated Man was painted by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel in 1771.

Where can I see Portrait of a Seated Man?

Portrait of a Seated Man is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Seated Man?

Portrait of a Seated Man is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Seated Man?

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

Artwork

Portrait of a Seated Man

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel , 1771

Portrait of a Seated Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel’s 1771 mezzotint, titled Portrait of a Seated Man, presents a monochrome image of a gentleman in period attire. Rendered in light brown ink on laid paper, the work captures the sitter seated, one arm resting on the chair’s back, against a muted, draped backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is depicted in traditional dress, with a starched white collar and loosely curled hair gathered at the back. The pose, relaxed yet formal, suggests a portrayal of status or personal identity, typical of 18th‑century portraiture that emphasized the sitter’s social standing through clothing and bearing.

Technique & Style

Created by the mezzotint process, the image achieves delicate tonal gradations through a combination of etching and burnishing of a metal plate. Fine, closely spaced lines produce smooth shading, allowing subtle modeling of facial features and fabric textures that give the print a realistic, three‑dimensional quality despite its monochrome palette.

History & Provenance

Executed in 1771, the print belongs to the later period of Ploos van Amstel’s career, when he was active in the Dutch art scene. It was produced as a single‑color impression on laid paper, a common support for mezzotints of the era, and has been catalogued among his portrait works.

Context

Mezzotint was a favored medium for reproducing paintings and creating original portraits in the 18th century, valued for its capacity to render atmospheric light and shadow. Ploos van Amstel, a Dutch artist and collector, employed the technique to explore the interplay of texture and tone, aligning his work with contemporary printmaking trends.