Description
Artist Nicolaes Eliasz Collector's painting Self-Portrait at the Age of Thirty-Six is a 17th-century masterpiece that showcases the artist's ability to capture the essence of portraiture in a single image. The work is an oil on canvas measuring 60 x 46 cm, and is currently in the collection of the National Museum in Stockholm.
The artistic style of the painting is Dutch Baroque, characterized by precision in detail and the capture of light and shadow. In this portrait, Collector uses a smooth and precise brushwork technique to create a realistic and detailed image of himself. The composition of the painting is simple but effective, with the artist looking directly at the viewer with one hand resting on a table.
The color of the paint is another interesting aspect of the work. Collector uses a palette of warm, earthy colors that give the image a feeling of warmth and calm. The golden and brown tones in the artist's clothing contrast with the dark background and create an effect of depth in the image.
The history of the painting is also fascinating. It is believed to have been painted in 1632, when Collector was 36 years old, and it is one of the few known self-portraits of the artist. The painting was acquired by the National Museum in Stockholm in 1866 and has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and studies ever since.
Finally, one of the lesser known aspects of the painting is that Collector used a layered painting technique to create the image. Instead of painting directly on the canvas, the artist applied multiple layers of paint to create a richer, more detailed image. This layered painting process is a common technique in Baroque painting and shows Collector's skill and mastery as an artist.