Portrait of a Man
Artist
Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen
(Dutch, 1504 – 1559)
Date16th century
CultureFlemish
MediumRed chalk
ClassificationDrawings
Credit LineMuseum purchase, 1960
Object numberSN713
Born near Haarlem, Jan Cornelisz. Vermeyen was a tapestry designer, engraver, painter, and portraitist. He is perhaps best known for his portraits of members of the Habsburg court-working at various times for the royals in Austria, Hungary, and England-but was known to produce civilian portraits as well. The Ringling sheet is one such work, and as an example of Vermeyen's draftsmanship is extremely rare (see From the Files: Collection Correspondence). Though the drawing-as-portrait did exist in the sixteenth century, this work was most likely a preparatory sketch. The work was executed in the expressive and versatile medium of red chalk, which was a popular choice for head and figure studies. Its warm tonality suggests the appearance of flesh, and its fluency of application conveys a spontaneity and immediacy desired for figure and head studies.
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