Portrait of a young Dutch officer - Attributed to Michiel Janz. Van Miereveld (1567-1641)

Early 17th century

Oil on oak panel with parquet

Very beautiful old gilded wood frame, carved with shells and acanthus leaves.

Total dimensions : 100 x 88 cm. The panel alone : 65 x 54 cm

This very attractive portrait represents a young "Stathouder" political and military function in the United Provinces. The position was theoretically open to all, but most provinces appointed a member of the House of Orange-Nassau.
The painter has beautifully executed this face with a powerful expression. The hair on the mustache and beard are realistically painted. While the contrast on this plain, dark background helps to highlight the character.
Particular attention has been paid to the detail of the superbly executed lace collar as well as the yellow fabric of the sleeves and the green scarf embroidered with gold that bars the armor, very expensive materials at the time.

Michiel Jansz van Miereveld (Delft 1567-1641)
Son of a goldsmith who apprenticed him to the engraver Hieronymus Wierix at a young age, he later became a student of Willem Willemz and Augusteyn de Delft.
He became one of the most famous portraitists of his time. His reputation was mainly based on his ability to achieve a perfect likeness of his models. Moreover, he surpassed many of his contemporaries in the three-dimensional quality of his faces, the splendid details of clothing and the play of light.

From 1604 Miereveld was regularly commissioned to paint at the court in The Hague. One of his first subjects in this circle was Louise de Coligny, widow of William of Orange. Prince Maurice, who hated to pose, gave the artist only one opportunity in 1607 to portray him. All subsequent portraits of the Prince are based on sketches made on that occasion, with Miereveld adapting the appearance, hairstyle and mode of dress to the subject's actual age.
Miereveld's first portrait of Frederick-Henri (1584-1647), the youngest son of William of Orange, and brother and successor to Prince Maurice, dates from about 1610. Until about 1637, Miereveld's workshop remained the leading supplier of court portraits.

Later, Gerard van Honthorst and other painters took over.