Jan VICTORS (1619 - 1676) Portrait of a man with a hat holding a letter Canvas Height : 106 cm Width : 88 cm Signed on the right Jan Victors f / 1651 Provenance : - Sale La Rochelle, Lavoissière-Gueilhers 14/03/2009 In some male portraits from Flanders and the United Provinces in the 17th century (by painters from Rembrandt van Rijn's circle or like Jan Victors), large black hats made of beaver felt were in fashion. This type of hat, highly prized by elegant people, was of high quality and expensive. It reflected the high social status of the man who wore it. Since beaver furs come from North America, buying a beaver felt hat is a sign of wealth. Its waterproof material and high, wide-brimmed shape provide protection from the cold. This shape of hat, combined with its black colour, also expresses the sobriety and seriousness of the Protestant. the sobriety and seriousness of Protestantism. In painting, these wide-brimmed hats also allowed the artist to play with light, framing the face and accentuating dramatic contrasts. They became a representational code that enhanced the social identity identity of the painted model. Expert : Stéphane PINTA for Cabinet TURQUIN