Derick Berck of Cologne
Original title: Derick Berck of Cologne
kurzbeschreibung
Hans Holbein the Younger painted this portrait of the Cologne merchant Derick Berck in 1536. Executed in oil, the picture began on a wooden panel and was later transferred to canvas. It gives us a bust-length view of a bearded man in a cap, a folded sheet of paper held in his hand.
Description
Berck wears a dark gown and a black head covering, and a full beard frames his sober face. His right hand rests on a sheet of paper lying on a red table. Behind him the ground divides into two zones: a green curtain on the left, and on the right a blue field crossed by a red cord running at a slant. Tones stay muted throughout, while the contrasts of light and shadow stand out sharply.
Context
Holbein was working as court painter to Henry VIII in England around 1536. The sitter, a merchant from Cologne, belonged to the circle of Hanseatic trade in London. During these years the painter produced numerous likenesses of merchants and courtiers living in the city.
Impact
A grave expression and restrained colouring lend the portrait a dignified, distinguished air. Because fabrics and facial features are rendered with such precision, the image acquires an almost physical presence.
Technique
Painted originally on wood, the picture was later transferred to canvas and carried out in oil. Holbein worked the beard and garments with fine brushstrokes, while the curtain and cord behind the sitter create a sense of spatial depth.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)