Halcyon

..day re-visiting The Wallace Collection and the new Frans Hals (error corrected)  exhibition  solely of single male portraits over 50 years to his death in 1666.

He completely revolutionised the male portrait capturing through pose and painting technique, his sitters’ characters like no one else before him. He evolved from 
finely painted works to a more free and loose handling style in his later years. 

I was particularly taken by this portrait (1650's) where the man's quiet presence is matched by a virtually all monochrome palate, excepting the  looped ribbons hanging below the man's doublet. Hals's ability to work with a limited palette later led Van Gogh to quip  'Frans Hals must have had 27 blacks.'

The Laughing Cavalier (1624) (shown in extra) was the most striking work. The extra shows, how easy it was to view it. I was quite amazed.

The other extras show permanent items:
A surprising risque portrait of SAINT ROCH by Carlo CRIVELLI (15th century) and a feel for the opulence of many of the exhibition rooms in the house.