Frans Hals: The Male Portrait

Delightful exhibition at the Wallace Collection bringing together a selection of portraits of male sitters by Frans Hals.

The centre piece and starting point was of course their own glorious “Laughing Cavalier” who is neither laughing or a cavalier but is still a wonderful, engaging picture. He was reunited with others of the elite of Harleem also painted by Frans Hals. They were arranged in chronological order which allowed you to see how his brushwork went from meticulously detailed to free and loose but with a similar effect.

I was fascinated by the commentaries on the sitters such as Jasper Schade from 1645, an aspiring young aristocrat who paid the equivalent of ¾ of a skilled artisan’s annual income on a single outfit. Other were more sober looking but they seemed to be a great pride in large bellies.

I love these sorts of shows which put you amongst a generation of people who almost certainly knew each other. You not only learn about the art but also the people and society for which is was made.

Closes 30 January 2021

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