Where can I see Portrait of a Young Man wrongly called Burgomaster Six?

Portrait of a Young Man wrongly called Burgomaster Six is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Young Man wrongly called Burgomaster Six?

Portrait of a Young Man wrongly called Burgomaster Six is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a Young Man wrongly called Burgomaster Six

Portrait of a Young Man wrongly called Burgomaster Six is an oil painting. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil painting presents a close-up depiction of an unidentified young man.

About this work

Technique & Style

No specific details regarding the painting's current physical condition, varnish layers, or technical handling methods are provided in the source documentation.

Created in 1633, this portrait is executed in oil paint on a support typical of the period, though the specific support material is not detailed in the available records. Described as a painting after Rembrandt, the work depicts a man wearing a hat and collar, rendered in the style associated with the artist's circle. The piece is classified as a portrait genre painting.

While the Met holds the work, historical provenance indicates it was once owned by Morris Ketchum Jesup and the dealer Charles Sedelmeyer. The formal qualities center on the depiction of the male figure and his attire, consistent with seventeenth-century portraiture conventions. No specific details regarding the painting's current physical condition, varnish layers, or technical handling methods are provided in the source documentation.

History & Provenance

Created in 1633, this oil-on-canvas portrait depicts a young man wearing a hat and collar. The work is historically identified as a copy or painting after Rembrandt rather than an autograph original by the master. Its provenance includes ownership by the dealer Charles Sedelmeyer before passing to American philanthropist Morris Ketchum Jesup.

The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the title references Burgomaster Six, historical records indicate this identification is incorrect, leading to the designation 'wrongly called Burgomaster Six.' The piece remains a significant example of 17th-century portraiture associated with the Rembrandt circle, though its precise commissioning details and original patron remain undocumented in the available records.

Overview

This oil painting presents a close-up depiction of an unidentified young man. The artwork, a portrait, was historically misattributed, leading to its current descriptive title. The subject's somber gaze and the dramatic lighting contribute to the painting's compelling presence, drawing the viewer's attention directly to his features.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait features a young man with dark hair, captured in a serious and contemplative moment. He is dressed in a dark jacket, accented by a high, ruffled white collar that frames his neck. The artist focuses intently on the sitter's face, conveying a sense of introspection or perhaps a direct engagement with the viewer through his steady, unsmiling expression.