Old Master Paintings
Old Master Paintings
Adriaen Hanneman
Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, wearing black and holding a letter
Lot Closed
April 6, 02:01 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Adriaen Hanneman
The Hague 1603/4 - 1671
Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, wearing black and holding a letter
signed lower left: hanneman. F; dated on the plinth lower left: Ano. 1656.; and inscribed on the letter: Illic, quidquid ero semper tua dicar imago. / VITA VOTA FATA
oil on canvas, unframed
78.1 x 64.2 cm.; 30¾ x 25¼ in.
The first part of the epigram written on the letter in the sitter's right hand, translates as 'There, whatever I shall be, forever I shall be famed as your idol / For life wishes fate'. It is taken from Book I of the Elegies (19:11) by Sextus Propertius, written in 25 BC, which was a collection of love poems addressed to an older woman called Cynthia.