Portrait of an Old Man With a Cane and a Hat

A painting by an unknown 19th-century artist from the Gallery collection is a freely simplified copy of the painting "Portrait of an Old Man with a Cane and a Hat" (formerly titled "Portrait of a Rabbi") by the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn or a follower of Rembrandt (1645, Dresden Gallery), which is also known from engravings from the 18th century. While maintaining the overall compositional similarity to the 17th-century canvas, an unknown artist altered the painting's colour scheme to be more vibrant and warm. The work is a half-length frontal portrait of an older man with a grey beard and moustache, depicted against a neutral dark background. With his right hand, the man leans on a stone parapet and holds a cane. The second hand is not visible due to the darkening of the paint, but it can be assumed that, as in the 17th-century canvas, the subject holds a pair of gloves in his left hand. The noble posture and the elegant black and red attire emphasise the model's noble lineage and high social status. A heavy gold chain complements the outfit with a teardrop-shaped gemstone pendant. A striking accent is provided by the wide red velvet beret on the subject's head. The man's face is calm and serious. A silent sadness and contemplation are reflected in his dark eyes, whose gaze is directed towards the viewer.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery