Captain Andries van Hoorn (1638) by Frans Hals

Captain Andries van Hoorn - Frans Hals - 1638

Artwork Information

TitleCaptain Andries van Hoorn
ArtistFrans Hals
Date1638
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions86 x 67 cm
Art MovementBaroque
Current LocationMuseo de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP), Sao Paulo, Brazil

About Captain Andries van Hoorn

The artwork “Captain Andries van Hoorn” by Frans Hals, dated 1638, is an oil on canvas portrait that is a part of the Baroque art movement. With dimensions of 86 x 67 cm, this piece is held at the Museo de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Hals is known for his loose painterly brushwork, a characteristic of the Baroque period that emphasized vividness and movement.

In the painting, we see a male figure dressed in dark attire of the 17th century, with a wide-brimmed hat and a large, intricate, white lace collar that was fashionable at the time. He has a mustache and a goatee, and his expression is confident and directly engaging with the observer. His left arm is bent, with his hand resting on his hip inside his cloak, illustrating a relaxed yet authoritative posture. A visible sword hilt implies his military status.

On the upper right side of the canvas, there is a coat of arms, which would typically symbolize the sitter’s family identity and social status. Below it, an inscription indicating the subject’s age (“AETAT SVÆ 38”) and the year of the painting (“A° 1638”) is present. The background is subdued and dark, focusing the viewer’s attention on the figure and the finer details, such as the texture of the lace and the gleam of the fabric. The lifelike representation, combined with the immediacy of the subject’s gaze, makes this portrait a noteworthy example of Hals’ mastery of portraiture.

Other Artwork from Frans Hals

More Baroque Artwork

Scroll to Top