Details

Object type

painting

Title

Self-Portrait with Beret

Artist/Maker

Govert Flinck artist

Culture/School

Dutch

Date

circa 1638-1643

Materials

oil on panel

Dimensions

unframed (oval): 660 x 514 mm; framed: 930 x 785 x 70 mm

Description

Archibald McLellan bought this painting as a Rembrandt self-portrait and for many years it was accepted as such. It was not until 1923 that Flinck was suggested as the artist, but even as late as the mid 1960s many still believed it to be a Rembrandt. It is now widely accepted as a portrait of Rembrandt painted by Flinck around 1635.

That it was so long attributed to Rembrandt is not surprising. Govert Flinck’s style in the 1630s was closely modeled on the master and even in his own lifetime it is known that his paintings were sometimes sold as Rembrandt’s. It is also very close in type to several painted and etched self-portraits by Rembrandt. The painting is now an oval shape but was originally rectangular. The background has been overprinted in a rather cold grey tone. Flinck painted a number of portraits of Rembrandt and his wife Saskia.

Credit Line/Donor

Archibald McLellan Collection, purchased, 1856

Collection

Archibald McLellan Collection

ID Number

44

Location

Kelvingrove Dutch Art Gallery