Portrait of Jacobus Hendricksz Zaffius

Jacobus Zaffius was the highest official in the Catholic Church in Haarlem. He was provost and archdeacon. Haarlem had been a Reformed city since 1578, and Catholicism was officially banned. But the town council turned a blind eye and Zaffius was able to continue in his post.
The portrait of Zaffius is thought to be the earliest known painting by Frans Hals, although the attribution has been disputed on stylistic grounds. Frans Hals has a recognizable style; he is known for his assured and spontaneous brushwork. This image of Jacobus Zaffius, although it is a good portrait, does not altogether reflect this style.
In 1630 Jan van de Velde II made an engraving of the portrait of Zaffius. Below the print is the legend ‘Frans Hals pinxit’ (Frans Hals painted this). In the print Zaffius is shown from the waist up. His hand rests on a skull. Because the print shows more than the painting, it was thought that the painting was originally larger, but this is not the case. Technical examination of the material of the panel has revealed that it has never been cut down.
It is possible that the print and his painting were both made after a now lost original by Frans Hals.