Heinrich von Ryssel
1640
From the collection of Brukenthal National Museum
Heinrich von Ryssel is a 1640 by Unknown, a Baroque work, depicting portrait, held at Brukenthal National Museum.
This painting shows a man sitting on a ledge, wearing a dark coat with lace at the cuffs and collar. His hair is short and curly, and he has a light beard. Behind him, a dark curtain or cloth drapes over the top edge, while his left hand rests on a small object—maybe a book or a fan. The writing at the top names the man as Heinrich von Ryssel, though we don’t know why he’s being painted here. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama in paintings like this.
