This portrait of an unknown man has many similarities with Gerrit van Honthorst’s work, particularly Portrait of an Officer (1644, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, SK-A-176) and Portrait of the Prince Palatine Edward (c.1640, Louvre, Paris, INV 1369), especially in the sensitive handling of the features and the sitter’s somewhat grave disposition. The present portrait is framed as part of a set of members of the Horner family from the second half of the seventeenth century, which suggests that this may be a member of the Horner family, perhaps Edward (1616–1654) or Samuel (1619–1706), younger sons of Sir John Horner (1580–1659).

Gerrit van Honthorst is best known as a prominent member of the Utrecht Caravaggisti, a painter of genre and religious scenes with dramatic use of light and shade learned during his time in Rome c. 1610–20. He also developed a thriving and lucrative portrait practice, particularly in courtly circles, and was much patronised by the House of Orange-Nassau. Van Honthorst visited England in 1628 when he painted Charles I, Henrietta Maria and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham among others, and he continued to receive commissions from English clients after his return to the United Provinces. From 1637 to 1652 van Honthorst lived in The Hague where he executed many high-profile commissions for portraits and large-scale decorative schemes. Honthorst established a large workshop and academy in Utrecht where his assistants and pupils included Jan Gerritsz. van Bronchorst, Robert van Voest, Gerard van Koijl and his brother Willem van Honthorst.