Elegant man and lady 1/2
Jan Antonisz. van Ravesteyn, Den Haag c. 1572 - 1657
Oil on canvas (a pair), 170 × 136 cm (including frame). This portrait is part of a duo.
Jan Antonisz. van Ravesteyn (c. 1572–1657) was a prominent Dutch portrait painter of the early 17th century, renowned for his detailed and lifelike depictions of the Dutch elite and royalty. During the 1620s, Van Ravesteyn made portraits of magistrates, soldiers and dignitaries accompanied by wives, as is the case here. In these portraits, the artist has depicted a richly dressed couple, with voluminous clothes, very skilfully describing the reflections of the fabric and the fine embroidery. The hat held by the man, the large ruffs worn by both his models, the detail of the lace decorating the woman’s sleeves – all these are meticulously rendered to convey the dazzling whiteness and intricacy of the details. Finally, the elegantly embroidered gloves of the woman are a sign of the couple’s wealth. The rich carpet on the table clearly unifies the two paintings as pendants. The two models are portrayed in a pose and setting that emphasizes their prominence: as was often the case, Van Ravesteyn painted with a flattering brush, unlike Michiel van Mierevelt, to whom he is sometimes compared.
