Ferdinand Bol
Portrait of a Young Man with a Sword
(1616–1680)
Dutch c. 1635-1640 Oil on canvas 81 x 51 1/2 inches Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Elton F. MacDonald 1962.18
Luxurious
Soft velvet, smooth satin, and rich brocade. How does it feel to have your portrait painted by Ferdinand Bol, one of Rembrandt’s most successful students? Enjoy the finer things by looking closer at this portrait of an unknown man.
A Day in the Life
Impressive
What famous artist was thought to have painted this portrait? What effect was it intended to have on Dutch viewers in the 1600s? Find out more from Alex Nyerges, Director and CEO of The DAI from 1992–2006, in the following audio clip.
For a number of years, this portrait of a young man with a sword by Ferdinand Bol was thought to have been painted by Rembrandt, and that's not all that unusual because Bol was probably the most successful and popular student of Rembrandt. Ferdinand Bol was in his day very much the success in Holland and was sought after for commissions by people of stature and wealth, as was probably this young man. The painting depicts a gentleman, a Dutch gentleman, which helps to reflect Dutch life in the seventeenth century, and shows you the trappings of wealth and stature in society. The elegant robes, the sword, the intricate weavings and elaborate details on his clothing, and, of course, this very dramatic pose, all lend credibility to the stature of this individual. Not to say the least that the dramatic size of this picture, which is nearly eight feet tall including the frame, was meant to impress viewers in the seventeenth century, as it does now.
Tools and Techniques
Behind the Scenes
Look Closer
Props
Bol followed his teacher Rembrandt in painting portraits of figures in opulent and often exotic costumes. Painters often keep a stock of items—both valuable and costume—that could be used to enhance the visual variety of a painting, as well as provide the painter an opportunity to display his or her skill. For example, compare Rembrandt’s painting The Polish Rider (c. 1655) with Bol’s Portrait of a Young Man with a Sword. Try to find as many similar objects as you can, and consider the different ways Rembrandt and Bol manipulate the paint to form those objects.
Just for Kids
Look!
Ferdinand Bol was a Dutch painter taught by Rembrandt van Rijn. Rembrandt is considered one of the greatest artists ever! This painting is very impressive, not just because of the young man’s golden clothes but because it was thought to have been painted by Rembrandt.
Look carefully at the young man’s face. How do you read its expression? Describe what your think he is feeling.
Signs & Symbols
Dig Deeper
Arts Intersected
Military Music
What music might Bol have listened to? What could be a good soundtrack for a jaunty youth like this one? Find out by listening to the Dayton-based Wind in the Woods Early Music Ensemble perform the song “Prince Rupert’s Masque” by the Dutch composer Jacob van Eyck (c. 1589/1590–1657).
Performed by Margaret Erin on soprano recorder. Recorded by John Slate.
For more information on performances and recordings by Wind in the Woods Early Music Ensemble, please visit http://www.windinthewoodsearlymusic.com.
The Sculpture Speaks
Did You Know?
Expert Opinion
Look Around
About the Artist
What Makes It Special?
This painting has many visual similarities to the work of Rembrandt, Bol’s teacher. In fact, at one time it was thought to have been painted by the Dutch master. Listen as Dominique Vasseur, former Senior Curator at The DAI from 1979–1999, explains why it might not be such a bad thing that this was painted by Bol.
Transcript:
Hello, this is Dominique Vasseur. I was curator at The Dayton Art Institute from 1979–1999. This work by Ferdinand Bol, who was a Dutch 17th century painter and a pupil of Rembrandt, is really quite an extraordinary work. Both its scale and the care and skill with which it was painted as well as the subject matter—this handsome young man dressed in this very exotic, elegant costume holding a sort of oriental sword—all of these really speak to the fact that this is a work that commands our attention. But something that’s quite interesting is that while The Dayton Art Institute does not own a painting by Rembrandt, of course a very famous artist, it owns this extremely handsome painting by Bol. And I would venture to say that this work by Bol is probably as good or equal to anything that Rembrandt painted, and for that very reason The Dayton Art Institute is quite honored to own this work. It speaks again to this idea that while perhaps the more well-known teacher is not owned, certainly a student who was up to the quality of the master, that those works are equally important for a museum to own.
Talk Back
Clues About Yourself
Today people take pictures of themselves or others anytime, anywhere, and often informally, such as selfies. But just like in this painting, people are still concerned with the image they project. If you were to pose for a large, painted portrait like this, what would you wear? What props would you include? And 400 years later, what might viewers think such clothes or objects say about you?
