Portrait of a Young Man of the Van Steynoert Family 1500 - 1524

This anonymous oil painting from the early 16th century is a portrait of a young man from the Van Steynoert family. The painting depicts the young man in a dark, somber palette with his right hand delicately holding a carnation, suggesting a symbolic representation of love, purity, and even mortality. The painting is a fine example of Northern Renaissance portraiture, characterized by its realistic portrayal of the sitter and meticulous attention to detail. The subject's attire and the presence of his family crest further reveal his social standing and familial identity. The portrait is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.