Portrait of Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676)

This 1667 portrait of Michiel de Ruyter at the Rijksmuseum is one of the definitive images of the Dutch Republic's greatest naval hero. Painted the year after de Ruyter's daring raid up the Thames, the portrait captures the admiral at the height of his fame and national popularity. Ferdinand Bol was one of Rembrandt's most talented pupils, and his portraits and history paintings from his years in the master's studio are sometimes difficult to distinguish from Rembrandt's own work—a testament to his exceptional skill in absorbing the master's technique.

The naval portrait renders de Ruyter with commanding authority, Bol's mature technique capturing the admiral's weathered features and confident bearing with the formal dignity appropriate to a national hero.