Who painted Steven van Dalen (gest 1586)?

Steven van Dalen (gest 1586) was painted by Unknown in 1590.

Where can I see Steven van Dalen (gest 1586)?

Steven van Dalen (gest 1586) is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Steven van Dalen (gest 1586)?

Steven van Dalen (gest 1586) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Steven van Dalen (gest 1586)

Unknown , 1590

Steven van Dalen (gest 1586) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work, attributed to Steven van Dalen and dated to around 1586, is an oil painting that presents a solitary male figure.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays an unnamed sitter, identified only through a date inscription that anchors the work to 1580.

The painting portrays an unnamed sitter, identified only through a date inscription that anchors the work to 1580. The composition follows conventional portrait conventions of the late sixteenth century in the Low Countries, presenting the figure in straightforward frontal pose without additional narrative or allegorical devices. No symbolic attributes or iconographic motifs are documented in the available sources; the work is recorded simply as an anonymous portrait within the Rijksmuseum collection.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for late sixteenth-century Netherlandish panel-to-canvas practice. According to the cataloguing, the work measures 113 cm in height by 85 cm in width, a substantial upright format suited to a half- or three-quarter-length portrait composition. The painting dates to 1580 and is classified as a portrait within the holdings of the Rijksmuseum.

No further information is provided regarding specific handling, brushwork, condition, or stylistic qualities beyond the generic classification as a portrait.

History & Provenance

The portrait by Steven van Dalen, dated 1580, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The institution previously operated under the name Nederlandsch Museum voor Geschiedenis en Kunst. The work is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 113 cm in height by 85 cm in width.

Historical records indicate the painting was formerly owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers, accession codes, or details regarding a public exhibition history for this piece.

Context

Steven van Dalen was active in the late 16th century within the artistic milieu of the Dutch Republic, as evidenced by his dated work from 1580. His painting, classified as a portrait and executed in oil on canvas, reflects the stylistic conventions of portraiture in the Low Countries during this period. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection and was originally owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters, linking it to notable private patronage networks of the time.

Scholarship situates the piece within the broader context of anonymous portraiture from the era, highlighting its significance in understanding regional artistic practices and social hierarchies of the late Renaissance.

Overview

The work, attributed to Steven van Dalen and dated to around 1586, is an oil painting that presents a solitary male figure. He is depicted with a dark beard, a white ruff, and a somber dark costume, holding a small object in his right hand. The composition is set against an unadorned, dark background that emphasizes the sitter’s face and attire.