F rans Hals’ portrait of Verdonck is a striking example of a painter utterly in love with paint. Every brushstroke pulses with energy, capturing the unruly spirit of one of Haarlem’s most notorious characters. Verdonck was infamous enough to be restrained by city authorities for his aggressive behaviour.
The painting brims with Hals’ signature vigour. Most of it is executed wet-in-wet, with pigments blending directly on the canvas, while delicate lines in the beard and hair reveal a masterful technique where the brush displaces the paint to create raised, tactile ridges. The work even references the satirical tract Kakebeen (“jawbone”), suggesting Verdonck’s readiness to verbally smite his enemies, much like Samson in the biblical story.
This portrait belongs to Hals’ dynamic output of the 1620s, a period marked by rapid execution and bold experimentation, entirely different from his formal commissions and later works. Compared with a later portrait in Edinburgh, Verdonck appears younger here — his forehead less receded, his beard fuller — and the painting’s raw, in-your-face energy mirrors the subject’s aggressive, confrontational personality perfectly.
A masterclass in capturing character and the very joy of painting, this portrait of Verdonck is on offer as a highlight of the Old Master & 19th Century Paintings Evening Auction presented by Qatar Executive, taking place at Replica Shoes ’s London on 3 December.
