Spanish school, ca. 1820

Spanish school, ca. 1820.
"Portrait of a gentleman.
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Frame ca. 1820, with faults.
Measurements: 63 x 48 cm; 80 x 69 x 8 cm (frame).

This painting presents a portrait of a gentleman that embodies the sobriety, dignity and elegance typical of the neoclassical portrait of the early nineteenth century.

The character, with a serene demeanor and introspective gaze, appears slightly turned, which naturally integrates the torso into the frame. His clothing, carefully detailed, responds to the characteristic style of the nobility or the enlightened high bourgeoisie of the time: a dark jacket that contrasts with the light vest with starched lapels, and a silk handkerchief knotted at the neck, all framed by a dim lighting that delicately highlights his face and hands, leaving the background in semi-darkness. The represented holds a pen in his right hand, a reflection of his intellectual character.

The gentleman's face, with an expression that reveals a half-smile, reveals a rich inner life, typical of a cultured man, aware of his position. The brushstroke, sober but sure, together with the restrained palette, sought to balance the baroque heritage with the enlightened ideals of rationality, restraint and nobility of spirit.