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Portrait of Gerard de Lairesse

1665–67
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 958
Gerard de Lairesse (1641–1711) was, in his day, a well-known painter, etcher, and art theorist. He suffered from congenital syphilis, which caused him to go blind about 1690; he subsequently focused his energies on art theory. By the time this portrait was painted, in 1665, the ravaging effects of the disease were visible in his swollen features and bulbous nose. Recording his unfortunate appearance with an uncompromising directness, Rembrandt invested his subject with an air of quiet dignity. Although the sitter's theories on the ideal in painting were antithetical to Rembrandt's style, which Lairesse disparagingly likened to "liquid mud on the canvas," the portrayal is a sympathetic one.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait of Gerard de Lairesse
  • Artist: Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) (Dutch, Leiden 1606–1669 Amsterdam)
  • Date: 1665–67
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 44 3/8 x 34 1/2 in. (112.7 x 87.6 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.140
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

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