Portrait of a Man

This portrait was bequeathed to the National Gallery in 1837. Time hasn‘t been kind to it. Painted in oil on an oak panel, the background in particular seems to have suffered damage or been painted over at some point.We don’t know who the sitter is or who painted the picture, but is thought perhaps to be a copy of a portrait by an Amsterdam artist of about 1640. The man’s costume and hairstyle – the lace falling collar, long curls, moustache and tuft of beard beneath his chin – were in fashion at about this time. His fleshy face and direct gaze also suggest he is a man of some standing in his community.