School of Abraham van Dyck (Dutch, 1635-1672) Portrait of an Ancient Bearded Man in a Red Skull Cap

School of Abraham van Dyck (Dutch, 1635-1672)

Portrait of an Ancient Bearded Man in a Red Skull Cap
Unsigned, with red wax collectors' seals and inscribed "TAVALIN" in black chalk on the reverse.
Oil on panel, 13 1/4 x 10 1/8 in. (33.5 x 26.0 cm), framed.
Condition: Fine craquelure, mirror-like varnish surface.

N.B. This 17th-century portrait, with its stylistic references to the work of Rembrandt, was likely done by a Dutch artist in the school of Abraham van Dyck (also spelled van Dijck). Comparatively little is known about Abraham van Dyck. Although the relationship has not been documented, it seems that he was probably apprenticed to Rembrandt around 1650. Carrying forth the master's themes, Biblical subject matter formed an important aspect of van Dyck's work. This portrait would seem to represent a scholar, religious, or Biblical figure, judging from the skull cap and the quill and paper. A similar figure in a documented work by Abraham van Dyck has been identified as King David. In June 2020, a catalog on Van Dijck written by David DeWitt will appear, which will hopefully shed more light on the artist's oeuvre and influence.

The portrait at hand was reviewed via digital images by the RKD (Netherlands Institute for Art History), and their expert concluded that this work, while reminiscent of Abraham van Dyck's work, was not by his hand but by a 17th-century artist whom they cannot identify. The collector's red wax seal on the reverse of the panel is also unidentifiable, but it appears to be from the 18th century.