Thomas de Keyser Portrait of a Man With a Shell

Thomas de Keyser, Portrait of a Man, c. 1625/26, oil on panel, 9 1/2 x 6 7/8 in.
Thomas de Keyser, Portrait of a Man, c. 1625/26, oil on panel, 9 1/2 x 6 7/8 in.

Thomas de Keyser specialized in portraiture and was the most sought after portrait painter active in Amsterdam up until Rembrandt’s arrival in 1630. As a member of a family of Dutch artists’ and architects, he began training in architecture, but soon turned to painting and established a style that would change little over his lifetime. His paintings, and their subjects, showed the upper class and high life in Amsterdam. He emphasizes the status of his subjects by paying special attention to the effects of light to create the illusion of rich fabrics and textures.

Portrait of a Man With a Shell and it’s accompanying pendant, Portrait of a Woman With a Balance follow the tradition of pendant portraiture in that it is meant to show the wealth and high status of the couple and their household. Although the subjects of the painting are unknown, they would have been prominent members of society. The shell in the man’s hand is an expensive object that is meant to symbolize that he was wealthy and well traveled; and the balance the woman holds symbolizes a balanced life and household. Unfortunately, the couples’ anonymity means that we can only theorize about the symbolic value objects in each portrait.

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