Portrait of a Man

The "Portrait of a Man" followed numerous paintings of youths. Despite individual facial features – Jan’s elder brother Justus may have served as model (Schnackenburg, 2016, p 391) – this is a tronie, a head and character study which could be used for later pictures. 39 tronies by Lievens, dating from the period between 1625 and 1631, have survived.
The three-quarter profile is shown against a neutral background. The man is looking to the right, his head slightly bent. The light comes from behind, so that parts of the face and the chest are in shadow – which on the one hand, in combination with the earthy tones, gives a sculptural effect, and on the other reflects the subject’s introverted emotional state. Evident here is Lievens’ study of both the Utrecht Caravaggisti and the painting style of Rembrandt.

Habersatter Thomas: Jan Lievens, Portrait of a Man, in: Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hrsg./Edi.): von | from 0 auf | to 100. Residenzgalerie Salzburg 1923-2023. Salzburg 2023, S./p. 164-165