Attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn
Dutch, 1606–1669
Man Reading
c. 1648
For centuries, this painting was thought to portray an individual, but recent research suggests it may be a tronie—a type of image in which seventeenth-century Dutch artists explored facial expressions and costumes. The richly textured surface and the contrast of warm light and soft shadows are typical of paintings by Rembrandt and his students, who learned the master’s techniques by copying his work. For a time, the work was considered a product of the artist’s followers, but has recently been attributed to Rembrandt himself.
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 29 3/16 x 22 1/8 in. (74.1 x 56.2 cm) Frame: 38 7/8 x 32 1/4 x 3 9/16 in. (98.7 x 81.9 x 9 cm) |
| Object Number | 1955.841 |
| Acquisition | Acquired by Sterling and Francine Clark before 1955 |
| Status | On View |
Image Caption
Attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn, Man Reading, c. 1648, oil on canvas. Clark Art Institute, 1955.841
Select Bibliography
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