René Descartes

1650s

Jonas Suyderhoff, after Frans Hals

Associated Names
Jonas Suyderhoff

Artist, Dutch, c. 1613 - 1686

Frans Hals

Artist After, Dutch, c. 1582/1583 - 1666

The image shows the upper half of a man's body, positioned seated and turned slightly to his left. His face features distinct facial hair with a mustache and a small goatee. The man has shoulder-length, wavy, dark hair. He wears a coat or cloak with a high white collar and a dark garment underneath. In his left hand, he holds a hat, visible at the bottom left of the image. The background is textured, possibly indicating a printed or engraved medium with Latin text at the top and along the bottom edge, along with inscriptions likely identifying the individual and the creators of the portrait.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Purchased as the Gift of Lawrence Lawver

  • Dimensions

    plate: 31.4 × 23.1 cm (12 3/8 × 9 1/8 in.)
    sheet: 34.5 × 25.5 cm (13 9/16 × 10 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2016.43.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Hollstein, no. 74, State ii/vi

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Henri Beraldi, Paris [born 1849] (Lugt 230). John Young, London [d. 1874/1875] (Lugt 1560). (Paul Prouté, S. A., Paris); purchased 2015 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1949

  • Hollstein, F.W.H. et al. German engravings, etchings and woodcuts ca. 1400-1700. 8 vols. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger, 1954-1868. Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700. Vols. I-XV, XVIII, XIX. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberge: no. 74, ii/vi

Inscriptions

across top of plate: NATVS HAGAE TVRONVM PRIDIE CA. APR 1596. DENATVS HOLMIA. CAL. FEB. 1650; across bottom of plate below image: RENATVS DESCARTES, NOBILIS GALLUS, PERRONI DOMINUS, SUMMUS MATHEMATICUS & PHILOSOPHUS. / Talis erat vultu NATVRAE FILIVS: unus / Qui Menti in Matris viscera pandid iter. / Assignansq suis quavis miracula causis, / Miraclum reliquum solus in orbe fuit. / F. Hals pinxit Il Suijderhoeff sculpsit; by later hand, lower right center in graphite: VAR

Wikidata ID

Q77016026

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