Portrait Of A Soldier Filling His Pipe. Hendrick Gerritsz. Pot (1581-1657) Attr

Dated on the right: 1642 Oil on oak panel Presented in a rare frame from the same period in molded wood, blackened and wavy patterns (very nice model!) Total dimensions: 44 x 37 cm. The panel alone: 22 x 17 cm. On this charming panel, the character represented wears a costume that seems to be typical of Dutch military fashion from the mid-17th century, it is a buttoned "doublet", which corresponds to the masculine clothing style of the time. The red stripe worn diagonally on the shoulder recalls the military scarf or baldric, often used to carry weapons. Fur hat, this type of headgear was often worn by people of high rank or military to indicate their status. It is interesting to note the diagonal layout with the character on one side and a large empty wall on the other, it seems that the painter appreciated this composition, because he adopted it many times on his paintings. Hendrick Pot, a Dutch painter, famous above all for his genre paintings and portraits. He served his apprenticeship with the Dutch Mannerist Karel van Mander (1548 – 1606) in Haarlem. Another of Mander's pupils was the portrait painter Frans Hal (1580 – 1666), who had a certain influence on Pot. In addition to portraits and genre paintings, Hendrick Pot also painted allegorical and historical paintings, such as The Officers of the Civic Guard of St. Adrian (1630). In his artistic production, one can clearly see the influence of another genre painter, Willem Buytewech (1591 – 1625). He was active in Haarlem and London, the cities where many of his paintings can be admired. In Haarlem he became Dean of the Painters' Guild, in London he was invited to paint portraits of King Charles I (1600-1649) and Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), probably around 1632. In genre scenes he formulated the figuration known as "Merry Company". An example is The Merry Company, dated 1630, which is set in a brothel, a frequent subject in Dutch genre scenes, and which represents common themes in his work: beauty, old age, death. Another famous painting, Vanitas, contains sensual motifs and symbols of love. Among his best-known paintings are: The Coin Collector, in which the artist mocks the market for tulips sold by weight in Haarlem, and The Miser, which is currently in the Uffizi. Related work: A similar painting is listed in the Netherlands Institute for Art History. Sold with a certificate of expertise