Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter (1607–1676)

This 1676 portrait of Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter depicts the greatest Dutch naval hero, who defended the Republic against English and French fleets in the epic sea battles of the 1660s and 1670s. De Ruyter's heroic status made him one of the most frequently portrayed figures in Dutch art. 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 commander is depicted with the authoritative bearing appropriate to his legendary status, Bol rendering the admiral's features and military bearing with the dignified formality of his late portrait style.