Hals, Frans (c.1582-1666)
Frans Post
c.1655
Oil on panel, 27.5 x 23 cm
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester
Hals is best known for the life-like quality he gave to his subjects through innovative composition and spirited brushwork. The subject of this portrait is a fellow Haarlem painter, Frans Post. Post was the first trained European artist to paint landscapes in the New World, on an expedition to Brazil between 1637 and 1644. The pose struck by the sitter is particularly suitable for an intimate portrait, as Post sits informally with his arm resting on the back of a chair. Hals‘ portrait of Frans Post dates from about 1655, when both painters were at the height of their artistic careers. (WAM)
See also:
• Post, Frans (1612-1680)