Portrait of an African Man
I was inspired to paint this work, because it is one of the earliest, and the only portrait of a black African man, painted by a European artist, that has survived.
The original was painted around 1525 - 30, by the Dutch painter, Jan Mostaert.
The history of the sitter, who is finely dressed and almost certainly educated, is not confirmed. However, it is thought that he might have been a court attendant, at the Court of Magaret, or Charles V. The insignia on his hat alludes to possible Spanish or Portuguese origins.
The original portrait hangs in the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam.
I was inspired to paint this work, because it is one of the earliest, and the only portrait of a black African man, painted by a European artist, that has survived.
The original was painted around 1525 - 30, by the Dutch painter, Jan Mostaert.
The history of the sitter, who is finely dressed and almost certainly educated, is not confirmed. However, it is thought that he might have been a court attendant, at the Court of Magaret, or Charles V. The insignia on his hat alludes to possible Spanish or Portuguese origins.
The original portrait hangs in the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam.
I was inspired to paint this work, because it is one of the earliest, and the only portrait of a black African man, painted by a European artist, that has survived.
The original was painted around 1525 - 30, by the Dutch painter, Jan Mostaert.
The history of the sitter, who is finely dressed and almost certainly educated, is not confirmed. However, it is thought that he might have been a court attendant, at the Court of Magaret, or Charles V. The insignia on his hat alludes to possible Spanish or Portuguese origins.
The original portrait hangs in the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam.