Franko flämischer Meister des ausgehenden 17. Jahrhunderts in Stilverwandschaft zu Constantin Netscher (um 1668 um 1723)
PICTURE OF A TEACHER IN A SILK HAUSMANTLE IN HIS LIBRARY WITH BOOKS
Oil on canvas.
83,5 x 54 cm.

This finely executed, high-quality portrait shows the young scholar in a three-quarter portrait, sitting in a relaxed posture on a chair to the right, his right arm resting on the tabletop. The bluish shimmering black silk cloak with rust-pink lining is covered by a silk scarf. The face is framed by a dark powdered allonge wig, the gaze is directed at the observer, the facial expression, as well as the posture of the right hand, with slightly bent fingers, palm of the hand pointing upwards and an extended index finger, sensitively reflects the gesture of a dispute. In his left hand he is holding an open book with his index finger on the open side, a sign that the dialogue with the viewer is a discussion about the content of the text. The lines can be read with the finest hairbrush technique and show a commentary on the book Exodus written in Dutch, as well as a reference to the Epistle to the Corinthians, chapter VII. Thus the sitter is probably identified as a theologian. In the background, a greenish curtain at the right edge of the picture, somewhat withdrawn, behind it a bookcase, in front of it two globes. The painting bears - invisible to the naked eye - a hardly legible inscription "V.-Rou[...]" in the upper left-hand side of the picture; it remains to be seen whether this is the name of the sitter or the signature. A.R. (1220014) (11)