Portrait Of A French Cavalier - Circle Of Gerrit Van Honthorst (1592-1656)

Dressed in a sparkling breastplate, an embroidered silk sash tied around his waist, and long hair in a lovelock and tied in a knot, this 17th-century French nobleman looks in every inch of the dashing horseman. Dating from the early years of the 17th century, the period in England we associate with glamorous figures such as King James I's advisor George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628), Charles I and the protagonists of the Civil War English, and in France with the ascendant of Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), this portrait shows a figure who comes from one of the most fascinating eras in European history. Executed by an artist from the circle of Gerrit van Honthorst, one of the greatest Dutch masters of his time, the face and outfit of the guardian are painted with great skill. Particularly noteworthy are the details of the costume, such as the embroidered designs on the silk belt, the embossed work on the gray leather belt the model wears on her chest, and the intricate lace detailing on the model's large collar ( a more elaborate form of the necklace said Van Dyck which was often seen in England by this date, having been popularized by Charles I). With the model's formidable armor and the air of steely resolve in her gaze, however, we also remember that this was a time of great violence, a time of strife - such as the Thirty Years' War of 1618. -1648 - raged across mainland Europe, displacing people and destroying lives. Indeed, it would not be unjustified to speculate that this character himself could have been involved in one of these monumental conflagrations. Nonetheless, the lovelock - the long length of hair reaching down to the sitter's left shoulder - reveals that the sitter was also committed to some of the romantic ideals of the time. Higher resolution images on request. Worldwide delivery available. Canvas: 27 "x 22" / 56cm x 69cm. Framed: 29.5 ”x 25.5” / 75cm x 65cm