Portrait of Herman Boerhaave (1688-1738)

De Gelder was Rembrandt’s last pupil. Like his master, he painted with rapid, broad brushstrokes. De Gelder lived in Dordrecht and is famous for his biblical scenes. But he also painted many portraits of his fellow townsmen and women. This portrait, however, is an exception, as it is of Herman Boerhaave, a renowned physician, botanist, chemist and professor at Leiden University.