Portrait of Jacob de Gheyn III

In this intimate portrait, Jacob de Gheyn III gazes out with a direct, almost challenging expression. His face, softly illuminated, emerges from the dark background, drawing your eye to the details of his features and the subtle play of light on his skin. This small oil painting, rendered on an oak panel, was created in 1632, a year after the artist moved to Amsterdam and began to achieve considerable success as a portraitist. It was commissioned alongside a companion portrait of Maurits Huygens, with the unusual agreement that the paintings would be exchanged upon the death of either friend, eventually reuniting in de Gheyn's possession. Its modest size, just under a foot tall, has unfortunately made it a frequent target for theft, earning it the nickname "takeaway Rembrandt" due to its portability.