Portrait of a Man 1666

Jan van Assen's "Portrait of a Man" (1666) is a miniature oil painting depicting a man with long hair, wearing a dark garment with a white collar. The sitter’s piercing blue eyes and subtle smile give a sense of quiet confidence. The artist’s signature can be seen in the lower right corner of the painting. This intimate portrait is an excellent example of Dutch portraiture in the 17th century, and is likely a commissioned work, possibly even a self-portrait of the artist. The small size of the work and the artist's signature suggest that it may have been a private devotional piece.