Portrait of Petrus Scriverius

Jan van de Velde the younger (1593-1641) was a Dutch Golden Age (17th century) painter and engraver of animal, landscape, still life and here portrait themes. This engraving is based on a painting by his considerably better known Haarlem contemporary, Frans Hals, and is paired with the subject's wife, Anna van den Aar; they are usually on public display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Petrus Scriverius was a distinguished historian, poet and scholar of classical literature. In the painting, Hals employs the enlarged miniature scale (225 x 165 mm), oval format, and illusionistic framing device that for several decades had been common in Dutch portrait prints. Scriverius's hand rests on the bottom of the moulding and he holds a pair of gloves, symbolising his gentlemanly status. The effect, particularly enhanced in the print, makes the portrait project like a relief sculpture. The Latin inscription on the illusionistic tablet below was composed by Scriverius, and is deliciously pompous: 'Here you see the face of him who, shunning public office, makes the Muses his own at personal expense'. This reinforces his image as a gentleman scholar rather than a paid hack. Scriverius looks the distinguished part. Impressions of the print would have been sent to scholarly colleagues throughout Europe.

See:  http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436619

Dr Mark Stocker     Curator, Historical International Art      July 2017