Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol: the Smaller Plate

Rembrandt van Rijn

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts two individuals captured from the waist up. The central figure is seated at a desk, turned slightly toward the viewer with papers in front of him, and he is using a quill in his right hand. This individual has a round face with a mustache and short, straight hair, and a small cap rests on his head. He wears a dark garment with a lighter inner shirt and prominent buttons. To his right stands a younger person with a curious expression, looking toward the seated figure. The child has longer hair and wears a dark top with a white collar. Surrounding the two figures is an interior setting featuring a window to the man's left, through which light filters, casting shadows. A candle and a drafting square are visible on the desk. On the wall behind them is artwork or religious imagery and architectural details, lending a sense of depth and ambiance to the space.