9 04 ‘ 2016   museomag 
Frans Pourbus le Jeune 
(1569-1622) 
An Unknown Man Aged 56, 
1591 
Oil on canvas 
The Apelles Art Collection, 
Luxembourg 
an unknown man 
princely portrayed 
“guest work” from 
6th 
october at the mnha 
The work An Unknown Man Aged 56 by Frans Pourbus 
the Younger (1569-1622), arguably one of the finest 
Netherlandish portraits of the late 16th century and 
of the best heads the artist every painted, once 
formed part of on one of the greatest collections ever 
assembled: that of Elector Lothar Franz von Schönborn 
(1655-1729) at Schloß Weissenstein in Pimmersfelden, 
Germany. There it hung in the great gallery with its 
pendant, the Portrait of a Lady Aged 54, now in the Fine 
Arts Museum of San Francisco. 
In this portrait, Pourbus achieved a degree of realism 
that he never again attained in his later portraiture. The 
sitter, a member of the wealthy Antwerp patrician class, 
is portrayed in a pose reminiscent of princely portraits, 
hitherto unseen in representations of the bourgeoisie. 
The bold and flourishing calligraphic signature and the 
elaborately decorated inscriptions giving the sitter’s 
age emphasize the confidence of both the patron 
and the artist. Unfortunately, there is no information 
available regarding the sitter’s identity or profession. 
That he was a man of means is however visible in his 
exquisite clothes. 
The panel highlights Pourbus’ analytical style. He pays 
utmost attention to the signs of aging, meticulously 
depicting each and every wrinkle. By representing a 
sitter who calmly faces the passing of time while being 
aware of his inevitable decline, he follows a tradition 
ranging from Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) to Christian 
Seybold (1695-1768) among others. In his paintings, 
Frans Pourbus combines minute observations with a 
feeling of confidence in life. 
“Guest Work” – until end April 2017 at the MNHA, 
3rd floor. Guided tours: see pages 16 and 18.