Petrus Scriverius (1576–1660
1626
Frans Hals loved breaking the fourth wall, and here he has his subject, the scholar Petrus Scriverius, literally leaning out of his painted oval frame to greet you. Painted in 1626 when Scriverius was 50, the portrait captures the man's intense gaze and that magnificent, fluffy white ruff collar with Hals' signature loose, energetic brushstrokes. It’s a brilliant example of Baroque portraiture that feels surprisingly modern and alive, as if the scholar just popped his head through the wall to share a juicy piece of historical gossip.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Frans Hals Museum
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