Portrait of a gentleman in armour, Flemish artist XVII - XVIII century

The work, clearly of Nordic origin, can be traced back to the circle of artists active in Flanders between the second half of the seventeenth century and the first half of the eighteenth century.

This intense half-length portrait of a nobleman, of excellent pictorial quality, is characterized by a rapid, decisive and lively brushstroke, the skilful treatment of the lights, in such a way as to highlight the proud gaze and magnetic aspect of the person portrayed, the advanced state of decay of the epidermis and the disheveled hairstyle probably from a gust of wind.
These aspects lead us to date the work to the second half of the 17th century, a period in which many illustrious Flemish portrait painters appeared.
The most interesting analogies are detectable with artists trained in Rembrandt's workshop, in particular with Bartholomeus van der Helst who translated the master's darker and more introspective style making it more accessible to the observer.

Within a coeval lacquered frame, it has some light restoration and a small cut on the top right. apocryphal inscription. Reupholstery from the second half of the 20th century.