Portrait of a Gentleman, Flemish C.1620; Circle of Cornelis De Vos (1585-1651), Oil on Canvas

This stately portrait of a Flemish aristocrat depicts him wearing a black costume with large milstone collar. His sleeves are ornately embroidered with gold thread and there is also a heavy solid gold chain draped down his chest. Black was predominant partly because it implied sobriety and modesty however, contrary to this, black was also the most expensive colour to produce. It was also fashionable and artists strove to depict the rich detail and texture of the fabrics in portraits. The large “figure eight” collar, as it was sometimes refered to, could take up to 15 metres of fabric to create. These collars grew in size and depth up to about the 1630s before being replaced by a flatter collar. There shape was kept in place by whale bone or wire and men wore their hair short during this period in part to keep it from getting caught in the collar.

The work, inscribed with the sitter’s coat of arms is striking in its portrayal of wealth and glorification of the sitter not least on stylistic grounds but also the large scale. It is considered a pendant portrait to the Portrait of a Lady, at which the time of cataloguing we are also offering for sale. A very good example from the Spanish Netherlands or modern day Belgium and painted by the circle of van Dyck’s slightly older contemporary, Cornelis de Vos.

Cornelis de Vos (1585-1651) studied under D. Remeeus c.1599-1604. He joined the Antwerp guild in 1608, and served as dean in 1619-20. His dignified portraits were much influenced by those of Rubens and van Dyck and there were known to maintain a charming modesty. This highly respected Antwerp portrait painter also excelled in group portraits of children. His brother Paul (1595-1678) was an animalier, and his sister Margaretha married the painter Frans Snyders.

Measurements: Height 129cm, Width 111cm framed (Height 50.75”, Width 43.75” framed)

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