Portrait of a Bearded Man

The influence of Rembrandt on Busch’s work is evident in this portrait. The sitter, an aged man sporting a wiry beard, is portrayed sympathetically, gazing towards the viewer with an apathetic - perhaps weary - expression. 

The man’s face is exceptionally detailed, with his wrinkles and jowls depicted in a realistic manner. There is no sense of mockery from the artist, as was common in other caricature-style paintings of elderly sitters. The beard is particularly outstanding, with the colour variations in the hair and the fine brushwork creating tangible texture. The tenebrism is also notable, with areas of light reflecting off of the man’s forehead, and casting the left side of his face in accurate shadow.

Ludwig Wilhelm Busch
Born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1703, Ludwig Wilhelm Busch was first a pupil of his father Johann Christoph. He travelled to Mitau to study under Dietrich Ernst Andre, before continuing his studies in the Netherlands and England. In the Netherlands, he became influenced by the works of Rembrandt.Returning to Germany, Busch worked in Hamburg and Hanover before becoming the inspector of the Gemäldegalerie in Castle Salzdahlum, the summer palace of the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. It was in this palace that he passed away in October of 1772. Busch is best known for his sketches after Rembrandt, and his tronie paintings of heads.