Bust of a Man (reverse copy) 1620 - 1674

This 'Bust of a Man' was rendered by Jan Lievens on a small sheet. The sitter's heavy-lidded eyes and the set of his mouth speak of an inner world, a psyche engaged in contemplation. Consider the cap he wears. It isn't merely a covering; it’s a symbol of status, knowledge, and perhaps even hidden ambition. Caps and hats throughout history have signified roles and identities – think of the Phrygian cap of freedom, or the papal mitre. Lievens, through this simple head covering, evokes layers of meaning, subtly alluding to the man’s place in society and his intellectual leanings. The intense gaze holds a psychological depth, an introspective quality seen echoed across centuries, from ancient Roman portrait busts to the self-portraits of Rembrandt. This is the enduring power of art – to capture not just likeness, but the very essence of human thought and feeling, passed down through generations.