A Man Wearing a Turban and Armour 1625 - 1670
manderiiikarelvan
statensmuseumforkunst
canvas
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
canvas
portrait reference
portrait head and shoulder
animal portrait
animal drawing portrait
portrait drawing
facial portrait
portrait art
digital portrait
"A Man Wearing a Turban and Armour" is a 17th-century oil painting by Dutch artist Karel van Mander III, depicting a Black man in elaborate Ottoman attire. The painting is considered a rare example of a portrait of an individual of African descent from this period. The subject's attire, with its opulent turban and jeweled chain, suggests a person of status and wealth. The painting showcases Mander's expertise in capturing the details of clothing and the sitter's expression, which conveys a sense of dignity and confidence. The painting is currently part of the collection of the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst in Denmark.
Comments
With his hand at his side and an attitude that accentuates the impression of arrogant superiority, this African gentleman is portrayed face on. He looks past us with his head held at a slight angle, accentuating the large pearl earrings and their vertical heft. Studded with gems and feathers, the white turban lights up the darkness, catching our eye. He wears armour and golden insignia reaffirming his status. An exotic dagger is held in place by a silk sash, while a rapier can be glimpsed at his side. The painting is an example of Karel van Mander III’s Rembrandt-like studies of distinctive characters, a so-called tronie. The model, the turban and other exotic props also appear in other paintings by van Mander, including a series of paintings of motifs from the romantic novel Aithiopika by the ancient Greek writer Heliodorus.
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