CIRCLE OF DIRCK VAN BABUREN (WIJK BIJ DUURSTEDE, NEAR UTRECHT C. 1592 / 3-1624 UTRECHT)

This arresting depiction of a philosopher was almost certainly painted in Rome in the second decade of the seventeenth century by an as-yet unidentified artist. In the dramatic use of light, the depiction of the wrinkled forehead and the treatment of fabrics, it comes particularly close to Dirck van Baburen’s early works, while also exhibiting familiarity with Jusepe de Ribera’s single figure depictions of saints and philosophers.

A photograph of this painting in the Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis bears an undated handwritten attribution to Wouter Pietersz. Crabeth II. This attribution was proposed by 'L.J.S', most likely identifiable as the late Leonard J. Slatkes.