CORNELIS TROOST | Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, wearing a grey satin waistcoat and a red cloak

Private collection, The Netherlands;

Whence sold, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 10 November 1998, lot 29 (as a pendant with lot 30, Portrait of a Lady, unknown hand), where acquired.

H.-J. Raupp (ed.), Niederländische Malerei des. 17. Jahrhunderts der SØR Rusche-Sammlung, vol. 5, Stilleben und Tierstücke, Münster/Hamburg/London 2004, pp. 318-19, cat. no. 75, reproduced in colour.

J.W. Niemeijer, the author of the Troost monograph of 1973, endorsed the attribution to Troost upon first-hand inspection of this painting in 2002. This may be the earliest known extant portrait by Troost, one of the most important Dutch artists of the 18th century, who came to be known as 'the Dutch Hogarth.' Two other works are dated 1716 - one, presumed lost, represents A Classical Scene (known only through the catalogue of the P. Loquet sale, Amsterdam, 22 September 1783, lot 365); the other is a portrait drawing of Simon Fokke as a Child, now of unknown whereabouts.¹ The present work reflects the influence of Troost's teacher, Arnold Boonen, himself taught by Godfried Schalcken.

1 https://rkd.nl/explore/images/147587