Portrait of a Man 1723

Cornelis Troost painted this “Portrait of a Man” using oil on canvas, a popular material choice in the 18th century. Looking closely, you can see the artist has used a layering technique. Thin glazes of paint build up the image, creating luminosity, particularly evident in the sitter's opulent velvet robe. Oil paint allowed for a high level of detail, seen in the rendering of the man’s powdered wig, which was a skilled and laborious process. The very materiality of this painting speaks volumes about labor and class. The sitter’s expensive clothing indicates wealth and status, while the artist's skill represents hours of training. Both are tied to the economic structures of the time, where patronage and artistic skill defined the art world. This painting blurs the line between fine art and craft, because the meticulous rendering of fabrics is just as important as the face of the sitter.