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Notes

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The pose of the young man, the discarded books and other items suggest that the painting is intended to express the state of melancholy. The engraving on the wall is based on W. J. Delff's engraving of Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt's portrait of Christian of Brunswick, now at Hampton Court. The subject is exceptional for de Heem. This theme has obvious links with the 'vanitas' subjects which he painted on occasion in the late 1620s. It may be a self portrait.