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Civic Portrait Of A Gentleman In A Doublet Beside A Table With A Clock, Dated 1595; Circle Of Frans Pourbus The Elder (1545–1581) Oil On Panel Painting
Status:This item has been sold Sold by:Titan Fine Art
This rare late-sixteenth-century Flemish portrait is among the most complete survivals of Antwerp civic portraiture. Painted on panel and dated 1595, with the sitter’s age inscribed as Ćtatis LVI, it combines high quality, strong condition, legible heraldry, and a psychologically nuanced likeness. Few works of this kind preserve such a coherent ensemble of inscription, armorial identity, symbolic objects, and refined paint handling, making it significant within Northern Renaissance portraiture.
The sitter, aged fifty-six (born c. 1539), is identified by the initials “V.D.S.V.D.” and the coat of arms as a member of Antwerp’s armigerous patriciate, most plausibly linked to the Van der Straeten family or an allied branch joined to a second Van D– lineage. This compressed use of initials reflects a common Flemish practice for compound surnames. Heraldic details support the connection: mantling in argent and gules (silver and red), colours associated with Van der Straeten arms, together ...with a darker crest element suggestive of an allied device—an assertion of lineage typical of Antwerp’s merchant-magistrate class.
His costume is sober but elite, datable to the mid-1590s: a black doublet of costly dye, cut without ostentation, and a neatly pleated white ruff of moderate scale, aligned with professional dignity rather than courtly display. The broad, authoritative hands and two gold rings on the left small finger further signal status and responsibility; in contemporary Flemish portraiture, multiple rings often implied contractual power, commercial success, or legal authority, with one here appearing signet-like.
On the green-covered table rests an open table clock, a luxury object in the 1590s associated with order, discipline, and moral accountability. Set near twelve o’clock, it may be read both as a reminder of mortality and as a symbol of fullness and equilibrium—fitting for a man portraying himself at a mature apex. The inscription “ANNO 1595 · ĆTATIS LVI”, in gold serifed capitals integrated into the surface, provides rare chronological certainty and confirms the portrait as a deliberate act of self-representation.
Its date adds resonance: Antwerp in 1595 was rebuilding after 1585, amid confessional realignment, economic contraction, and the departure of many Protestant merchants. For those who remained—Catholic-aligned merchants, magistrates, and guild leaders—portraiture asserted lineage, authority, and steadiness in uncertain times; this sitter belongs unmistakably to that milieu.
Stylistically, the work aligns with the Antwerp portrait tradition shaped by Frans Pourbus the Elder yet executed after his death. Softly modelled eyes, restrained flesh tones, tonal beard handling, and a sober ruff distinguish it from other Antwerp painters of the period. Ultimately, costume, gesture, heraldry, inscription, and symbolic objects operate in concert to construct a sophisticated image of lineage and measured civic responsibility, making the painting both aesthetically compelling and historically eloquent.
Full description at: www.titanfineart.com
Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com
In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.
With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.
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Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1187061
Dateline of this antique is 16th Century
Height is 89cm (35.0inches)Width is 70cm (27.6inches)Depth is 7cm (2.8inches)
Antique SA1187061 shown on this page was made in the 16th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C16th
ANTIQUE SA1187061
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
Titan Fine Art
Specialist in 17th & 18thC portraits. Highly curated selection, museum-level research & pro conservation. Exceptional art, expertly vetted.
London
United Kingdom
Tel: 07875 412 111
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
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