English school; c. 1690.

English school; c. 1690.
"Portrait of a young gentleman".
Oil on canvas. Relined 19th century.
It has frame of the nineteenth century manner and mother-of-pearl.
It presents shield on the back with the inscription "Data fata Secutus (guided by destiny)".
Measurements: 76,5 x 63 cm; 96 x 83 cm (frame),
The work responds to a moment in which the portrait was consolidated as the main vehicle of social affirmation, identity and prestige within the aristocracy and the emerging bourgeoisie. The young man appears isolated against a dark and neutral background, a characteristic resource of the English tradition, which favors concentration on the face and expression.
From the technical point of view, the careful gradation of light stands out, modeling the face with softness and providing volume without resorting to excessive hallmarks. The use of color, especially the deep reds of the cloak and the broken whites of the clothing, fulfills a double function: it hierarchizes the figure and emphasizes her social status, while introducing a discreet chromatic elegance, a hallmark of the English school.
In 17th century English painting, the portrait acquired a central and practically hegemonic relevance, to the point of becoming the most characteristic genre of the country's artistic production. Unlike other European traditions, where historical or religious painting occupied a predominant place. English portraiture in the 17th century was characterized by a tendency towards naturalism and expressive restraint. In contrast to the dramatism of the continental Baroque, painters active in England favored compositional clarity, neutral backgrounds and a moderate illumination that favored the psychological reading of the model. The interest shifted from the heroic gesture to the individuality of the sitter, reflected in the gaze, the posture and the sobriety of the attire.
The presence of foreign artists, especially Flemish and Dutch artists such as Anthony van Dyck, was decisive in consolidating a model of aristocratic portraiture that had a lasting influence on the English tradition.