The Rafael Valls Sale, Part II
The Rafael Valls Sale, Part II
Johann Spilberg the Younger
Portrait of a gentleman in black, wearing a chain and a hat, in a painted oval
Lot Closed
December 16, 02:15 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Johann Spilberg the Younger
Düsseldorf 1619 - 1690
Portrait of a gentleman in black, wearing a chain and a hat, in a painted oval
signed lower left: lSpilberg
oil on oak panel
unframed: 30.5 x 24.6 cm.; 12 x 9¾ in.;
framed: 46.2 x 40.7 cm.; 18¼ x 16 in.
We are grateful to Tom van der Molen who suggests this may be a self-portrait by Johann Spilberg, painted around c. 1643 when the artist was studying with Govaert Flinck in Amsterdam. Here Spilberg imitates the style of Flinck's master, Rembrandt, by placing the arm over an illusionary parapet.1 This pose appears to have derived from portraits by Titian, which Rembrandt may either have seen in person or known from copies or engravings.2
1 https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-self-portrait-at-the-age-of-34
2 https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-portrait-of-gerolamo-barbarigo