The Persian

Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn painted this striking figure dressed in exotic Eastern garments, part of his lifelong fascination with costume and character. The subject wears a richly textured robe and elaborate headdress, suggesting a Persian nobleman or merchant. Whether painted from life or imagination, the work demonstrates Rembrandt's skill at rendering fabrics and his interest in the foreign and unusual.

Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden Age was a hub of international trade, exposing artists to goods and people from across the globe. Rembrandt collected costumes and props that appear throughout his work. This painting hangs at the National Gallery in London.