Diogenes Looking for an Honest Man (1652) perfectly illustrates the art of historiated portraiture, a genre favored by the Dutch bourgeoisie during the Golden Age.
Van Everdingen transposes here the famous anecdote of the Greek Cynic philosopher into a contemporary urban setting of Amsterdam, transforming a genre scene into a collective portrait of the Steyn family. The theatrical composition is organized around Diogenes holding his lantern, surrounded by a motley crowd in sumptuous costumes revealing mercantile prosperity. The artist demonstrates his virtuosity in rendering fabrics, flesh, and individualized expressions, with each figure constituting a faithful portrait of the commissioning family members. The Gothic architecture in the background evokes Amsterdam’s grandeur, while picturesque details humanize this moral allegory. This work testifies to the humanist erudition of the period and the ability of Northern painters to reconcile realism with classical references.
Further information
- Caesar van Everdingen, Diogenes Looking for an Honest Man (Portrait Historié of the Steyn Family), 1652
- 75.9 x 103.6 cm, oil on canvas
- Mauritshuis, The Hague, displayed in Prince William V Gallery
- https://www.mauritshuis.nl/fr/decouvrir-la-collection/oeuvres-d-art/39-diogenes-looking-for-an-honest-man-portrait-historie-of-the-steyn-family
Caesar van Everdingen (1616-1678) remains a major figure of the 17th-century Dutch School, younger brother of landscape painter Allaert van Everdingen. Trained in Utrecht in the workshop of Jan Gerritsz van Bronckhorst, he settled in Haarlem around 1648 where he developed a personal style. Specializing in group portraits, historical and mythological scenes, he particularly excelled in the art of historiated portraiture, catering to the tastes of a cultivated clientele. His refined technique, his sense of staging, and his ability to individualize physiognomies in complex compositions made him one of the most sought-after portraitists of his time, durably influencing the art of collective portraiture in the Netherlands.
