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This male portrait by a leading Czech Empire-style portrait painter of the early 19th century, Antonín Machek, whose portraits are among the very best of the period, is a beautiful work that represents Machek's method of depicting the model without flamboyance or pathos. The artist focused on portraying the likenesses of major figures, particularly artists, writers and scientists. The face of the portrayed man is distinctive for its apt and lifelike individual characteristics and delicate color, shaped by gentle pink gradations and an exact rendering of all the details. The half-figure of the man, sitting in front of a brocade drape, is dressed in a matte black suit with a white shirt-front and collar and a black cravat. The ink-well and the sheet of paper the man is holding in his hand are additional features that express the man's occupation or social standing. Expert assessment: PhDr. PhDr. Naděžda Blažíčková-Horová.