Bartholomeus van der Helst, Portrait of Paulus Potter (1625-1654), 1654. Oil on canvas 99 x 80 cm, Mauritshuis, Netherlands.

Paulus Potter, the painter of the famous bull, only lived until the age of 28. Shortly after his death, Van der Helst painted this tribute to him. His magnificent black cloak, his fashionable wavy hair touching his shoulders and his confident gaze lend him an impressive air. Around 1650, Van der Helst was the most sought-after portrait painter in Amsterdam. His portraits are characterised by a smooth painting style, bright colours and even lighting. They are very different from those of his fellow townsman Rembrandt.