Who painted A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck)?

A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck) was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in c. 1660.

Where can I see A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck)?

A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck)?

A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck) is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck)?

Museum-quality prints of A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck)

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1660

A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck) is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:center right: Rembrandt 166[?]

About this work

Technique & Style

The medium consists of oil paint applied to the woven fabric, a standard combination for Dutch Golden Age portraiture of this scale.

Executed in 1660, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas support. The work measures approximately 109.9 by 89.5 centimeters. While the piece is classified as a portrait depicting a male figure, its attribution remains debated; sources variously identify the creator as Rembrandt van Rijn or suggest the hand of Govert Flinck.

The medium consists of oil paint applied to the woven fabric, a standard combination for Dutch Golden Age portraiture of this scale. No specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, surface condition, or underpainting techniques are provided in the available records, which focus primarily on the material composition and dimensions rather than a microscopic analysis of the paint handling or current state of preservation.

History & Provenance

Attributed variously to Rembrandt van Rijn or Govaert Flinck, this oil-on-canvas portrait is dated to 1660. Its documented ownership chain begins in Sweden, where it was possibly acquired between 1768 and 1772 by Gustaf Adolf Sparre. Following his death, the work passed by inheritance to his wife, Elisabet Sofia Amalia Beata Sparre, and subsequently to their grandson, Gustaf Adolf Frederik De la Gardie, and his father, Jacob Gustaf De la Gardie.

The painting was sold after 1837 to Carl De Geer and entered a family trust managed by Elizabeth Wachtmeister at Castle Wanås in 1855. In December 1926, the Wachtmeister Trust sold the piece to Duveen Brothers, Inc., who immediately transferred it to Andrew W. Mellon. Mellon deeded the work to the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust in 1934, and it was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1937.

The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having been gifted to the institution in 1937 by the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust. Prior to this, the work was deeded to the trust by Andrew W. Mellon in December 1934, following his acquisition from Duveen Brothers in December 1926. The piece originated from the Wachtmeister Trust at Castle Wanås, Sweden, where it had been placed in a family trust in 1855.

While specific inventory or accession numbers are not detailed in the provided records, the work's modern provenance is well-documented through its transfer from the Sparre and De la Gardie families in Sweden to American ownership. The sources do not list specific public exhibitions prior to its entry into the National Gallery.

Overview

A Young Man Seated at a Table (possibly Govaert Flinck), an oil on canvas by Rembrandt van Rijn, dates to approximately 1660. This portrait captures a solitary figure at a wooden table, immersed in a moment of quiet contemplation. The artwork reflects the artist's mature period, characterized by a profound exploration of light and shadow to convey psychological depth.

Subject & Meaning

The identity of the young man depicted remains a subject of scholarly discussion, though the painting's title suggests he might be Govaert Flinck, a former pupil of Rembrandt. Seated with a pen in hand and a book nearby, he appears to be engaged in study or writing. The introspective nature of the pose has also led some to consider the possibility of it being a disguised self-portrait by Rembrandt himself.