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ANTIQUE #SA1050954

17th Century Oil On Panel Portrait Of A Young Gentleman C.1670 - Attributed To Theodore Roussel.

Status: This item has been sold
Sold by: Period Portraits

Fine and intimate oil on panel portrait of a young gentleman circa 1670 Attributed to Theodore Rousel
 
With his smooth skin and wide eyed gaze this striking subject exhibits the male ideal of beauty associated with the second half of the seventeenth century. He has heavy lidded oval eyes and cupid - bow lips as well as the slightly heavy jaw are seen in both male and female portraits of this era.
 
The elegant sitter is depicted half length wearing a white linen shirt and a blue silk cloak with his curly chestnut hair tumbling naturalistically around his shoulders.
 
Linen came in many grades of fineness and it was worn next to his skin to provide a washable layer. It was usual to want to display its snowy whiteness – and the costly labour- intensive process that kept it freshly laundered and clean. It is the interplay between rich silk and satin garments and the linen beneath that creates such a pleasing contrast of texture and colour within this portrait.
 
It was fashionable in the second half of the seventeenth century for men to be depicted in ‘undress’ (in a kind of dressing gown called a ‘banyan’) but it is highly unusual to see a man depicted in just his shirt, as this would have been regarded as an undergarment. The revealing flash of white flesh at the front of the sitters chest further confirms that he is delightfully ‘deshabille’
 
This fine and jewel like work is clearly an intimate piece that was made for a close companion ( it may even be a smaller riccordo /momento of a larger work ) Like us they would have enjoyed the sense of dress/undress and drapery that gives this portrait the semi-timeless air that was popularised by the paintings of Van Dyck, and his great admirer Lely.
 
THEODORE ROUSEL (1614-1689)
 
Aliases: Theodore Rousel; Theodore Rousseel; Theodore Roussel; Theodore Russel.
 
Born in London, his father, Nicasius, was a goldsmith and jeweller, who left Bruges for England about 1573 and settled in the parish of St Anne, Blackfriar...
Antique #SA1050954, shown on this page, originates from the 17th century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
←C17th
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PERIOD PORTRAITS PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
Period Portraits
Specialist dealer in portraits from the 17th century to the 20th century. Our stock includes quality oil paintings, drawings, and mezzotints
Yorkshire
United Kingdom
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
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