Here is a baroque portrait masterpiece where Rembrandt deploys all his technical virtuosity to immortalize the triumphant youth of the Dutch merchant aristocracy. Young Marten Soolmans, son of a wealthy family of sugar industrialists, stands with sovereign elegance on a tiled floor with cool tones that magnificently contrast with the velvety depth of the blacks.
The mastery of chiaroscuro here reaches its pinnacle: the skillfully orchestrated light makes the sumptuous Flemish lace of the collar and cuffs sparkle, true technical prowess. The black costume, of refined elegance, enhanced with rosettes and ribbons, testifies to an assumed opulence in a Calvinist society nonetheless renowned for its austerity. The glove held with nonchalance reveals an assertive character, conscious of his rank.
Further Information
- Portrait of Marten Soolmans, by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1634
- 207.5 x 132 cm
- The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam and Musée du Louvre, Paris (currently exhibited in Paris until 2029 before alternating back to Amsterdam for 5 years)
- At Rijksmuseum: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/Portrait-of-Marten-Soolmans–8e1e37eae253bf0f528928483b8ca933
- At Le Louvre: https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010364287
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) was at the pinnacle of his glory when he created this portrait in 1634, at the age of 28. This Amsterdam period marks the height of his career as a society portraitist, before personal tragedies and bankruptcy led him toward deeper introspection. Undisputed master of chiaroscuro and human psychology,
Rembrandt revolutionized the art of portraiture by surpassing simple social representation to reveal the soul of his subjects. This portrait of Marten Soolmans, together with that of his wife Oopjen Coppit, forms an exceptional diptych, long in private ownership before being jointly acquired by the Louvre and Rijksmuseum in 2016 for the record sum of 160 million euros, testifying to the capital importance of these works in the world’s artistic heritage.
