Portrait of a man
This is surely one of the most intriguing portraits in the collection. This painting has long been said to be of the major 17th century poet and politician Andrew Marvell (Hull 1621-78). This now seems unlikely, as by 1658 Hanneman had returned to the Hague, and Marvell's correspondence gives no indication of a visit to Holland in that year. More probably it is of an exiled Royalist visiting the Hague. Hanneman's portraits were strongly influenced by those of Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641), the Flemish artist who attained great success in England at the Court of Charles I. In the Ferens' painting, this influence is seen particularly in the use of warm brown tones and in the mannered pose of the hands. However, unlike Van Dyck, Hanneman achieved little success in England, returning in 1640 to The Hague where he became painter at the Court.
