MuseoMag: MuseoMag 2016_04

MuseoMag 2016_04

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Title:: MuseoMag

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Title:: MuseoMag 2016_04

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Title:: An unknown man princely portrayed: "Guest work" from 6th October at the MNHA

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.

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