Portrait of Joseph Deutz

This is an unusual portrait: a young man direct engaging the viewer, as though he is about to speak. Sweerts portrayed Joseph Deutz in Rome, while he was sojourning there with his brothers. Deutz (1624–1684) was a member of one of the wealthiest families in Amsterdam. His art collection also included Sweerts’ paintings of the ‘Seven Works of Mercy’, four of which are presented in this gallery.