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Portrait of a Man with a Shell

ca. 1625–26
Not on view
The man is a shell collector, in an age when foreign trade opened up a wide world of natural curiosities. His wife holds a balance, symbolizing the virtue of temperance. De Keyser was one of the leading portraitists in Amsterdam during the 1620s and 1630s. He is best known for small full-length portraits, but he also painted large group portraits and small bust- and half-length portraits.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait of a Man with a Shell
  • Artist: Thomas de Keyser (Dutch, Amsterdam (?) 1596/97–1667 Amsterdam)
  • Date: ca. 1625–26
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 9 3/8 x 6 3/4 in. (23.8 x 17.1 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: From the Collection of Rita and Frits Markus, Bequest of Rita Markus, 2005
  • Object Number: 2005.331.5
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Portrait of a Woman with a Balance, Thomas de Keyser Dutch, Oil on wood
Portrait of a Woman with a Balance
Thomas de Keyser
ca. 1625–26
Crucifixion, Thomas de Keyser Dutch, Pen and brown ink, brown and gray wash, heightened with white on brown paper. Framing line in pen & brown ink
Crucifixion
Thomas de Keyser
1665
A Musician and His Daughter, Thomas de Keyser Dutch, Oil on wood
A Musician and His Daughter
Thomas de Keyser
1629
Herman Doomer (ca. 1595–1650), Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Oil on wood
Herman Doomer (ca. 1595–1650)
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1640
Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill, Pieter Claesz Dutch, Oil on wood
Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill
Pieter Claesz
1628

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