Portrait of the Shell Collector Jan Govertsen van der Aer by Hendrik Goltzius. A detailed 17th-century portrait of a man with curly grey hair holding a large seashell while seated at a table displaying other exotic shells.

Portrait of the Shell Collector Jan Govertsen van der Aer

Hendrik Goltzius

1603 · Oil Paint, Canvas

A refined 17th-century portrait of a Dutch gentleman displaying his esteemed collection of exotic seashells.

$129

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From $129

5 frame sizes

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Where it works

A substantial, grounding work in a warmer tonal register — supports a polished room with depth.

Often works in
Library · Study · Living Room
Placement
Strongest where a vertical wall can take more presence
Walls
Benefits from light or mid-tone surroundings
Color notes
Charcoal black, Rich brown

About the piece

Painted in 1603 by the renowned Dutch master Hendrik Goltzius, this portrait captures Jan Govertsen van der Aer with his collection of rare seashells. The work beautifully illustrates the Renaissance curiosity for natural history, rendered with the meticulous detail and sophisticated chiaroscuro typical of the Dutch Golden Age.

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