Man with a Celestial Globe

Although recently published as a work by Werner van den Valckert (born about 1585, died 1627/28), this panel is almost certainly a comparatively early work by another Amsterdam portraitist, Nicolaes Eliasz. At the death of the conservative Cornelis van der Voort (born about 1576, died 1624), Eliasz. and the young Thomas de Keyser (see A Musician and His Daughter of 1629, 64.65.4) became the leading portraitists in Amsterdam until Rembrandt arrived in the winter of 1631–32. In its description of physical qualities and in expression this portrait is engaging, but its lack of animation and psychological intensity make the contemporary ascents of Hals and Rembrandt easy to understand.