Andries Stilte as a Standard Bearer by Johannes Verspronck

Johannes Cornelisz. Verspronck, Andries Stilte as a Standard Bearer (detail), 1640, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund 1998.13.1

Frans Hals, Portrait of a Member of the Haarlem Civic Guard (detail), c. 1636/1638, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Andrew W. Mellon Collection 1937.1.68

Verspronck: Highlights on the nose and lips are understated and curve with the shape of the features.

Hals: Light on the nose is indicated by quick strokes of white paint that do not precisely conform to the shape of the nose: one moment we are looking at a shining highlight; the next moment we see a daub of white paint on the surface of the canvas.