Who painted A Young Man Holding a Staff?

A Young Man Holding a Staff was painted by Pieter Claesz Soutman in 1640.

Where can I see A Young Man Holding a Staff?

A Young Man Holding a Staff is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Young Man Holding a Staff?

A Young Man Holding a Staff is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of A Young Man Holding a Staff?

Museum-quality prints of A Young Man Holding a Staff are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Young Man Holding a Staff

Pieter Claesz Soutman , 1640

A Young Man Holding a Staff is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Pieter Claesz Soutman. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:center left: P. Soutman / F.A. 1640

About this work

Technique & Style

As a portrait by Pieter Claesz Soutman, the painting utilizes the traditional medium of oil on panel typical of the period's portraiture.

Created in 1640, A Young Man Holding a Staff is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 60.4 cm in height and 49.2 cm in width. As a portrait by Pieter Claesz Soutman, the painting utilizes the traditional medium of oil on panel typical of the period's portraiture.

The surface retains the physical dimensions recorded at the National Gallery of Art, where the piece is currently held.

History & Provenance

A Young Man Holding a Staff is an oil on panel portrait by Pieter Claesz Soutman dated to 1640. The documented ownership chain begins with a private collection, from which the panel was offered at Sotheby's, London, on 22 April 2009, as lot 31. It subsequently returned to private hands before being sold on 21 May 2010 through the dealer Bijl - Van Urk, B.V., based in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains held.

No commission details or earlier provenance entries are recorded in the available sources, and the 2010 acquisition marks the earliest documented institutional ownership. The available sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number, and no exhibition history is recorded.

Overview

Pieter Claesz Soutman's "A Young Man Holding a Staff," created in 1640, is an oil painting executed on panel. This portrait centers on a single male figure, rendered with a focused intensity characteristic of the artist's work. The piece reflects the prevalent style of portraiture during the Dutch Golden Age, emphasizing individual presence and a direct engagement with the viewer through its carefully composed subject.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a young man with light brown hair, whose serious and composed expression dominates the composition. He is dressed in a dark, buttoned jacket, accented by a white collar. His right hand holds a smooth, rounded staff, while his left hand rests against his chest.

This posture, combined with his steady gaze, suggests a contemplative demeanor, inviting an interpretation of his character and status.