Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
The depiction of the lace collar is superb, and the features of the sitter are beautifully observed and painted, giving us a real insight into the character of the young man. He looks candidly at us, with a touch of humour to the eyes and mouth. His lace and the gold buttons on his doublet proclaim him as a person of considerable means.
MICHIEL JANSZOON VAN MIEREVELT, often abbreviated as Michiel Jansz. and the surname also spelled Miereveld or Miereveldt, (1566 – 1641) was a Dutch Golden Age painter.
He registered as a member of the Guild of St. Luke in The Hague in 1625. Devoting himself first to still lives, he eventually took up portraiture, in which he achieved such success that the many commissions entrusted to him necessitated the employment of numerous assistants, by whom hundreds of portraits were turned out in factory fashion. Today over 500 paintings are or have been attributed to him. The works that can with certainty be ascribed to his own brush are remarkable for their sincerity, severe drawing and harmonious colour, but comparatively few of the two thousand or more portraits that bear his name are wholly his own handiwork. So great was his reputation that he was patronised by royalty in many countries and acquired great wealth. The king of Sweden and the count palatine of Neuburg presented him with golden chains; Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, at whose court he lived in Delft, gave him a pension; and Charles I vainly endeavoured to induce him to visit the English court.
Many of his pupils and assistants rose to fame. The most gifted of them were Paulus Moreelse, Jan Antonisz. van Ravesteyn, Daniel Mijtens, Anthonie Palamedesz, Johan van Nes, and Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet. His sons Pieter (1596–1623) and Jan (died 1633), and his son-in-law Jacob Delff, probably painted many of the pictures which go under his name. His portrait was painted by Anthony van Dyck and engraved by Jacob Delff.
SIZE: 27 x 23.5 x 1.25 inches including the frame.
PROVENANCE:* Formerly the property of the Raymond-Barker family late of Fairford Park, Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire Private Collection.
Verso: Framer's label.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of a Young Gentleman C.1620, Circle or Studio of Van Miervelt.
