Artwork
Portrait of a Bearded Old Man with a Hand in his Cloak
Portrait of a Bearded Old Man with a Hand in his Cloak is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Created in 1643, this oil painting presents a bearded elderly figure whose right hand is concealed within his cloak.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It is part of the Hermitage Museum's collection in Saint Petersburg, having entered the museum's holdings after its creation in the Dutch Republic.
The painting shows an elderly man with a beard and a hand concealed beneath his cloak, rendered in oil on panel. The sitter wears a beret and displays a contemplative expression, typical of 17th-century Dutch portraiture. The work is interpreted as a study of character and dignity rather than a specific narrative or allegory, reflecting Rembrandt's interest in psychological depth.
It is part of the Hermitage Museum's collection in Saint Petersburg, having entered the museum's holdings after its creation in the Dutch Republic.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a support typical of Rembrandt's smaller-scale portraits from this period. The composition measures approximately 50.5 cm in height by roughly 41–41.5 cm in width, an intimate format suited to a closely observed character study.
Stylistically, the painting focuses on the sitter's weathered features, with attention directed to the bearded face, the soft modeling of the beret, and the discreet gesture of the hand tucked into the cloak. The handling emphasizes tonal contrast and the textured rendering of skin and fabric rather than linear precision, hallmarks of Rembrandt's mature portrait approach.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it remains today. Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Bearded Old Man with a Hand in his Cloak is dated to 1643, aligning with the artist’s mature period in Amsterdam. The work was created in the Netherlands, as indicated by its materials and stylistic context.
No documented commission or early ownership history prior to its inclusion in the Hermitage’s holdings has been established in the available sources.
The painting Portrait of a Bearded Old Man with a Hand in his Cloak is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The work, created by Rembrandt in 1643, is executed in oil on panel and measures 50.5 cm in height by 41 cm in width. While the Hermitage Museum is confirmed as the current location, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Furthermore, the available documentation contains no record of the artwork's exhibition history or past public showings.
Overview
Created in 1643, this oil painting presents a bearded elderly figure whose right hand is concealed within his cloak. The sitter wears a simple beret and turns his gaze away from the viewer, set against a deep, muted backdrop that emphasizes his presence. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection in St. Petersburg.
Context
Painted during the Dutch Golden Age, the work reflects the period’s focus on realistic, individualized portraiture for private patrons. Rembrandt, at this stage, was establishing his reputation for psychological depth in portraiture, a quality that would become a hallmark of his later oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
