Samuel van Hoogstraten,  Dutch 1627-1678-  Portrait of a yo

Lot description

Samuel van Hoogstraten, Dutch 1627-1678- Portrait of a young man, bust-length, in a brocade-lined cloak and a velvet black cap; oil on canvas, 52 x 44.1 cm. Provenance: Rev. H. Howlett (reputedly a gift from the Fairfax family, Leeds Castle), and by descent to Rev. L. Howlett. George French, and by descent through Blanche French to her godson. Anon. sale (Property of a Lady), Christie's, London, 25 February 1994, lot 142. with Johnny van Haeften, London, from whom acquired by John H. Schaeffer. Property from the Collection of John H. Schaeffer, sale, Christie's, London, 7 July 2004, lot 46 (£26,290). Private Collection, UK. Literature: W. Sumowski, 'Gemälde der Rembrandt-Schüler', Landau, 1983, IV, p. 2965, no.1988, illustrated p. 3055, as 'School of Rembrandt'. Note: In c.2004, Professor Sumowski revised his previous attribution for this picture from 'School of Rembrandt' to Samuel van Hoogstraten. The identification of the sitter remains elusive, though the young man does bear a close resemblance to Herman Dullaert (1636-1684), for whose portrait by Philips Koninck (1619-1688) see Sumowski, op. cit., III, p. 1541, no.1029, illustrated p.1579. Van Hoogstraten was a hugely significant painter of the Dutch 17th century. He was particularly celebrated for his experiments in perspective, and produced pioneering 'perspective boxes' such as that which can be found in the National Gallery, London [NG3832]. He trained in the studio of Rembrandt (1606-1669), alongside Carel Fabritius (1622-1654), with many of his paintings, including the present work, undeniably exhibiting Rembrandt's influence. Similarly atmospheric portraits by van Hoogstraten include his self-portrait in the Museum Bredius in The Hague [56-1946], and his painting of gentleman, previously thought to be Baruch Spinoza, in the Jewish Museum in New York [JM 84-69].