Haarlem School, 17th Century

The actual painting is a bit darker in tone, but the colour palette is representative for the actual painting. The copper plate is sound. There are two small dents along the edge centre left and centre right. The paint surface is secure and under a very dirty and dull layer of varnish, and its removal would improve the tonality. There's one tiny fleck of paint loss lower centre and a few tiny retouched ones in the coat and in the background centre left. Inspection under UV light reveals two few tiny additional retouchings in the right cheek and some in the hat. Offered in a decorative gilt wood frame in good condition. (MW)
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Clearly made under the influence of Adriaen Brouwer, this small tronie was probably painted by a Haarlem master from the circle of Judith Leyster, Jan Miense Molenaer and Pieter Quast. In facial studies such as this, these painters were particularly interested in trying to capture fleeting effects of emotion and expression.