Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Jan Van Haensbergen
Portrait of a Young Gentleman, Pieter Van Der Dvssen; by Jan van Haensbergen

circa 1664

About the Item

Portrait of a Young Gentleman, Pieter Van Der Dvssen c.1664 Jan van Haensbergen (1642–1705) This charming portrait is an excellent example of late 17th century child portraiture and is from one of the most prolific periods in art history – the Dutch Golden Age. A vast number of artists produced work to fulfil the demands and tastes of a broad Dutch society, and many cities in the Netherlands developed into distinct artistic centres, characterised by style and specialities of subject. The quality of our portrait is similar to the works of the highly specialised ‘fijnschilders’, who were working in Leiden at the time; these artists executed meticulous small-scale paintings. As with the artist’s other works of children, Haensbergen painstakingly recorded many details including a fine depiction of the face, and the surface effects of the materials and the pearl clasps. The young sitter is Walther Bernt Pieter Van der Dussen. He was born into a wealthy noble Catholic family in Delft in 1654. In this portrait he would be around ten years of age, dating the work to circa 1664, which is also the year before the artist’s marriage to Johanna van Heusden. The Van der Dussen family were great patrons of the arts and commissioned a number of major works from eminent artists in Delft & Amsterdam. Van der Dussen died in 1716. The wooded setting, the lamb, and the “picturesque” or “Roman” dress imbues the portrait with a sense of Arcadian simplicity. This draws from the tradition of pastoral literature and by the early 17th century was already popular in art; all educated individuals were familiar with Latin and Greek pastoral poetry. The mythological world of Arcady was an idyll that the ladies and gentlemen of the Court could inhabit in the guise of shepherds and shepherdesses. The pastoral tradition in literature and plays had been embraced by an aristocratic class since classical times. Life in the country was perceived as peaceful, contemplative and free of worry of hardships, a time to pursue pleasure. To be painted in such a manner created a tangible expression of power and wealth. When the portrait was painted the pastoral was so ingrained that the mere inclusion of such elements suggested Arcadia to the viewer. Of course, the sitter did not live in such a world and this exquisitely detailed painting was a step from reality into a tranquil world. Symbolism was important in portraiture and it provided a pointed and aspirational narrative that would not have been lost on contemporary viewers. For example, the presence of the lamb, apart from being a charming pictorial device, is a clear allusion to the child’s innocence. Presented in a good antique frame. Johannes (Jan) van Haensbergen was a Dutch Golden Age painter who was born in Utrecht in 1642. By 1668 he was registered there at the Guild of St. Luke and one year later he was working in The Hague, where he was not only painting many of the local elite but he also became an art dealer. His output was prolific and his very skilful and detailed portraits, clearly showing his influence by Casper Netscher, bolstered his popularity. He died in The Hague in 1705. Provenance: With Bonhams 5 July 2006, estimated £5,000 – £7,000 Measurements: Height 67cm, Width 59cm framed (Height 26.25”, Width 23.25” framed)
  • Creator:
    Jan Van Haensbergen (1642 - 1705)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1664
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 26.38 in (67 cm)Width: 23.23 in (59 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Very good quality and condition. This painting has passed a strict quality and condition assessment by a professional conservator prior to going on sale. It can be hung and enjoyed immediately.
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU119919100022
More From This SellerView All
  • Portrait of a Lady with Crimson Wrap & Fur c.1675 Fine Dutch Old Master Painting
    Located in London, GB
    This exquisite portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, was painted in the era of London’s Great Fire - a young woman has been depicted wearing the most luxurious attire and a fortune ...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of Lady Anne Tipping née Cheke c.1705, English Aristocratic Collection
    By Kneller Godfrey
    Located in London, GB
    Titan Fine Art present this exquisite portrait, that formed part of a historic collection of an English aristocratic family, Lord and Lady Sandys at their magnificent baroque and Reg...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of a Gentleman in Scarlet Robe Holding Flowers c.1675, Oil on canvas
    Located in London, GB
    Titan Fine Art present this striking portrait, which was painted by one of the most talented artists working in England during the last half of the 17th century, John Greenhill. Gre...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of a Lady in Blue Silk Dress & Crimson Mantle c.1695; by Thomas Murray
    Located in London, GB
    The sitter is elegantly attired in a blue silk dress over a white frilled chemise and a striking crimson mantle. The artist, Thomas Murray, can be described as one of the most successful and talented during the last part of the seventeenth century. It is not surprising that Murray painted the portraits of King William III, Queen Mary, Queen Ann as well as several other high-ranking individuals. The influence of Sir Godfrey Kneller is evident and even expected considering the importance of Kneller, and even though the formula employed for head and shoulders portraits of woman during the period is similar, Murray’s work is distinguishable by a refined and elegant manner, a smooth overall feel, and often, distinctive eyes. Murray is known to have employed not only the same pattern as our portrait but the three distinctive colours (blue, white, red) many times. Thomas Murray was born in Scotland but moved to London to study with a member of the De Critz family. Later he was a pupil of the English portraitist John Riley (1646-1691), who was court painter to King William III and Queen Mary, and was practising as a painter on his own in the 1680s. In 1691 he took over Riley’s studio when that artist died in 1691 and he established a very successful practice. The Rev, James Dalloway accounted that Murray “was remarkable for his personal beauty and for the elegance of his manner” and he was also noted to have been hard working, courteous and popular with his customers. His portraiture retains an individual style and easily recognised but his earlier work is similar to John Closterman, who was a fellow pupil, and many consider this period to be his finest. Murray invested wisely in property and when he died in 1735, he left around £40,000. He had no children and he bequeathed his money to a nephew with instructions that his monument, with a bust, should be erected in Westminster Abbey, provided that it did not cost too much – but his nephew decided that it was indeed “too expensive” and the plan did not proceed. He is buried in St. Paul's, Covent Garden. Murray’s work is represented in many British country houses and private collections, the National Portrait Gallery London, Royal Society and Middle Temple in London, and in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. A good example of 17th century British portraiture...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of Lady, Grace Saunderson, Viscountess Castleton Oil on canvas Painting
    By Studio of Sir Peter Lely
    Located in London, GB
    Portrait of Grace Saunderson, Viscountess Castleton (1635-1667) c.1665-67 Sir Peter Lely and Studio (1618-1680) Titan Fine Art present this work, which formed part of a collection of family pictures and heirlooms of the Saunderson, Viscount Castleton family and their descendants, the Earls of Scarbrough, at their magnificent family seat Sandbeck Park, where the Earls still reside today almost four hundred years later. It was painted in the studio of Sir Peter Lely...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of a Lady in an Elaborate Stone Cartouche, Oil on canvas Painting
    By Mary Beale
    Located in London, GB
    Portrait of a Lady in an Elaborate Stone Cartouche c.1675-80 Mary Beale (1632-1699) Titan Fine Art present this superb portrait where the sitter has been portrayed wearing a low-cut white chemise under a gold silk robe with a draped light...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like
  • Oil Painting Portrait, attributed to John Vanderbank (1694-1739)
    By John Vanderbank
    Located in Uppingham, GB
    Oil Painting Portrait of John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll,, att to John Vanderbank (1694-1739) Housed in a swept frame which has been restored after photo. Canvas Size 50" x 40", Fr...
    Category

    1690s Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Cosimo III de Medici
    By Justus Sustermans
    Located in London, GB
    Justus Sustermans was first recorded working for the Medici in Florence in October 1621. He then worked continuously for the Grand Dukes until his death 60 years later in 1681. Suste...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 16th Century By Circle of Giovan Battista Moroni Portrait of Woman Oil on Canvas
    Located in Milano, Lombardia
    Giovan Battista Moroni (circle of) (Albino, 1520 – 1580 ca.) Portrait of a woman Oil on canvas, cm. 46 x 40 - with frame cm. 55,5 x 50,5 Antique shaped and gilded wooden cassetta frame. Publications: unpublished. The present portrait shows an adult woman, no longer young, as can be seen from her slightly blistered cheeks, but not elderly either. The suspicious and veiledly inquisitive gaze is well matched by the elegance of her extremely fashionable black clothes...
    Category

    16th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait Gentleman 17th Century Paint Oil on canvas Old master France Art
    By (circle of) Nicolas de Largillierre
    Located in Riva del Garda, IT
    NICOLAS DE LARGILLIÈRE (Paris 1656 - Paris 1746), circle Portrait of a gentleman late 17th century oil on canvas cm. 59 x 56 with frame 71 x 59 Beautiful portrait, of excellent quality, depicting an austere gentleman who peers intensely towards the observer. He is depicted three-quarters, powdered with the long wig called "Léonine", in a red velvet cloak...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • circa 1700s Huge Old Master Portrait of an Aristocratic Lady Oil Painting canvas
    Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
    Portrait of a Noble Lady circa 1700 circle of John Closterman (German 1660-1711) oil on canvas, unframed canvas : 50 x 40 inches provenance: private collection, Somerset, England con...
    Category

    Early 1700s Old Masters Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 17th-18th Century By Niccolò Cassana Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on Canvas
    Located in Milano, Lombardia
    Expertise by Prof. Davide Dotti. Expertise by Prof. Anna Orlando.
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All