Man on Horseback with a Page
De Keyser is credited with having originated the small equestrian portrait, of which this is a good example. Despite its size, there is remarkable character in the faces of both the sitter and his rather dull-witted servant. The dark clothing with only white collar and cuffs seen in both of our de Keyser portraits, is the typical sombre black preferred by Dutch burghers and their wives.The unknown sitter would probably have posed in the artist's studio on a 'dummy' mount, the background and horse being added later.
