Rembrandt - Old Man with a Gold Chain [1631]

Here, the gold chain and steel gorget suggest an honoured military career, while the plumed beret evokes an earlier time. The broad black mass of the old man’s torso against a neutral background is a powerful foil for these trappings. The face is that of a real person, weathered and watchful, glowing with pride and humanity. The unidentified sitter, once thought to be the artist’s father, was a favourite model, appearing in many of the artist’s early works.

 

[Art Institute of Chicago - Oil on panel, 83.1 × 75.7 cm]

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