Portrait of a Man with Ring and Touchstone

This well-preserved portrait displays Van den Valckert’s polished painting technique to perfection. The vivacity is chiefly due to the illusionistic effect of the man leaning out of a niche, which recedes slightly on the left. His right hand appears to be projecting out of the picture, and the viewer’s eyes are automatically drawn to the attribute he is displaying. The gold ring, together with the touchstone which he is holding in his left hand, are the clues to his profession and official function. It seems likely that the sitter is the Leiden goldsmith Bartholomeus Jansz van Assendelft (1585-1658).