Double Sided 17th Century Oil On Panel Portrait

A rare fascinating and highly decorative 17th century European double sided oil panel portrait.

Side 1. 17th century portrait of a scholar. The affluent sitter is keen to display his scholarly qualities as social and economic standing. He hold a tiny time in his ring encrusted hands and upon his desk is an ink pot and another volume

The most costly element of this gentleman's attire is his sumptuous face-framing ruff, Its plain fabric is embellished with needlework in a technique called ‘cutwork’ or ‘reticella’ (from the Italian for snowflake). Selected warp and weft threads were removed from the woven fabric to create a net-like form that was then worked into with individual stitches to create the snowflake pattern.

Around the edge of the ruff are ‘punto in aria’ (which translates as ‘stitches in the air’) that form little spiky patterns – little triangles of individual stitches. It represents a literal wealth of fabric, folded and gathered in order to display the costly reticella – and the face (and face value) of its wearer – to the best advantage.

I am a fine and brave fellow – he seems to say – admire my intelligence, my dress and my deportment.

Side 2. Classical scene of what appears to be Rebecca and the Elders gathered in a forest clearing, crammed full of delicious details.

Higher Resolution images on request.
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Panel Measures: 67cm x 32cm x 7 m
Framed Dimensions: 85cm x 48cm x 87cm

These works are ready too display and enjoy in a double sided ebonised frame of considerable age ( formerly pert of a screen)