Portrait of Pieter Boudaen Courten (1594-1668) 1619

Salomon Mesdach's 1619 portrait depicts Pieter Boudaen Courten, a prominent Dutch merchant and entrepreneur. The painting showcases the sitter in a three-quarter pose, dressed in a dark velvet suit with a lavish, white fur collar and lace cuffs. The detail of the intricate embroidery and lacework in the clothing adds to the portrait's realism and emphasizes the subject's wealth and social standing. This style of portraiture, common in the Dutch Golden Age, reflects the era's appreciation for both realism and symbolism.