The lively composition of this portrait closely follows a painting by the Flemish master Anthony van Dyck, whose suave style inspired Dutch artists such as Wallerant Vaillant to develop a polished elegance quite different from Rembrandt’s incisive naturalism. The sitter may have seen Vaillant’s mezzotint after Van Dyck’s painting and requested a similar likeness. The dynamic pose suggests a momentary encounter, bringing the figure to life before our eyes.