Portrait of an Unknown Young Man in an Imagined Roman Costume 1656 - 1723

Gottfried Kneller, a prominent portrait painter of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, created this red chalk drawing, "Portrait of an Unknown Young Man in an Imagined Roman Costume," between 1656 and 1723. The drawing, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, features a young man in a stylized Roman costume standing beside a classical urn with drapery flowing behind him. This type of artwork, known as a "fancy picture," was popular in the 17th century and often depicted individuals in historical or fantastical settings. The drawing's precise subject remains unknown, adding to its intrigue.