Who painted Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat?

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1640-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat?

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat?

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1640

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat is executed in oil paint on a canvas support.

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. Created in 1640, the work measures 121.3 cm in height and 98.4 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece is attributed variously to Rembrandt himself or to the style of Rembrandt, with some records suggesting Reynier van Gherwen as a possible creator.

The composition depicts a male figure wearing a gorget and a hat adorned with a feather. As a portrait, the handling focuses on the representation of these specific attributes and the sitter's attire, characteristic of mid-seventeenth-century portraiture.

History & Provenance

The portrait was executed in 1640 as an oil painting on canvas, depicting a man in a breastplate and plumed hat, and measuring 121.3 cm by 98.4 cm. The work was owned by the collector Louisine Havemeyer before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it forms part of the museum's collection. It is catalogued as a portrait associated with Rembrandt and dated 1640. No specific accession number or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.

Context

The work, dated to 1640, is situated within Rembrandt's mature period of portraiture, though its attribution remains a subject of scholarly debate. While traditionally associated with Rembrandt, the Metropolitan Museum of Art classifies the piece as being in the style of the master, with some records suggesting Reynier van Gherwen as a potential creator. This ambiguity reflects broader discussions regarding the workshop practices of the Dutch Golden Age and the difficulty of distinguishing the master's hand from his followers.

The depiction of a man in military attire, featuring a breastplate and plumed hat, aligns with the genre of authoritative portraiture popular in seventeenth-century Holland. Its acquisition by Louisine Havemeyer and placement in the Metropolitan Museum of Art underscores its recognized, albeit contested, significance.

Overview

Portrait of a Man with a Breastplate and Plumed Hat is an oil painting depicting a male figure against a somber backdrop. The subject, dressed in a dark coat and a metal gorget, holds a vibrant red feathered hat in one hand while the other rests on his chest. His face is illuminated, contrasting sharply with the surrounding shadows.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter's attire, particularly the prominent metal gorget and the elaborate plumed hat, conveys a sense of distinction or rank. These elements were often associated with military figures or individuals of significant social standing during the period, suggesting the subject's elevated status.