An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of Tieleman Roosterman1634
Frans Hals
c. 1581/85-1666
An extremely wealthy linen and silk merchant in Haarlem, Tieleman Roosterman was 36 years old when Frans Hals painted his portrait. Unlike many Dutch painters of the period, Hals favored strong, visible brushstrokes that convey the vitality of his sitters. Roosterman strikes a confident pose, his costume sober but luxurious: his sleeves are decorated with braid and buttons, and ribbon rosettes encircle the waist of his doublet. The rich black of his suit is offset by the broad linen collar and lace-edged cuffs—fashionable details befitting a successful cloth merchant.
Roosterman may have ordered this portrait--and one of his wife--to commemorate their wedding in 1631.
oil on canvas
Framed: 139 x 109 x 5.5 cm (54 3/4 x 42 15/16 x 2 3/16 in.); Unframed: 117 x 87 cm (46 1/16 x 34 1/4 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
In the serene town of Haarlem, where the sun gently kissed the cobblestone streets and painted light danced between the quaint gabled houses, lived Tieleman Roosterman. At the age of 36, he was no ordinary man; he was a merchant whose wealth flowed like the winding canals that crisscrossed his beloved city. A man whose life was woven together with fine linen and luxurious silk, Roosterman stood as a testament to the thriving spirit of commerce that defined the Dutch Golden Age.
One fateful day, he found himself sitting for a portrait. The artist was none other than Frans Hals, a maestro known for his unique style that breathed life into canvases, a stark contrast to the more restrained techniques of his contemporaries. As Roosterman settled into the chair, the ambient sounds of the marketplace faded, leaving a tranquil aura enveloping the room. Hals, armed with his brush, approached; eager to capture not just the likeness but the very essence of his subject.
In the painting, Roosterman strikes a pose of palpable confidence, like a ship’s captain poised to navigate uncharted waters. His costume, though sober in color, spoke of luxury and success. The rich black fabric of his suit, akin to the dark depths of the surrounding canals, was adorned with intricate details—a braid and buttons that glinted in the light, each choice a nod to his prosperity. Around his waist was a ribbon rosette, its elegance echoing his elevated status in society.
The artist’s strong, visible brushstrokes danced across the canvas, imbuing Roosterman's figure with a vibrant vitality. Broad linen framed his neck, and delicate lace-edged cuffs peeked out from his sleeves, representing trends that befit a man whose life revolved around commerce and fine textiles. The portrait turned into more than just an image; it became an homage to a man at the peak of his success, capturing the very heart of Haarlem at a time when silk and linen ruled the markets and the spirits of its people.
As Roosterman gazed into the distance, one could almost hear the whispers of the bustling marketplace outside, where dreams were woven into fabric, and the story of his life would forever be immortalized on that canvas. In that tranquil moment, an ineffable bond formed between the merchant and the artist, celebrating the essence of human resilience and achievement.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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