A detailed 1755 portrait etching of the Dutch painter Frans Decker, featuring his artistic tools and a commemorative verse.

This portrait print depicts the Dutch painter Frans Decker (1684-1753). Executed by Cornelis van Noorde in 1755, the work functions as a commemorative image, likely intended for a biographical collection or a publication documenting the lives of artists from Haarlem. The composition follows the conventions of eighteenth-century portraiture, placing the subject behind a stone plinth that acts as a visual barrier between the viewer and the sitter.

Decker is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a soft cap and a loose-fitting garment. His expression is composed, reflecting the sober dignity often associated with the professional portraiture of the period. The inclusion of an artist's palette, a mahlstick, and a bundle of brushes resting on the plinth serves to identify his profession clearly. These attributes are rendered with precision, demonstrating the technical capability of van Noorde in the medium of etching and engraving.

The lower section of the print features a cartouche containing a Dutch verse by P. Merkman, which praises Decker's artistic spirit and his dedication to his craft. The text provides a literary dimension to the visual record, situating the artist within a specific cultural context of the mid-eighteenth century. The print is signed by van Noorde in the lower right corner, with a reference to the original drawing by F. Hogenberg dated 1735, indicating that this print is a reproduction based on an earlier study.

Van Noorde was a prolific printmaker in Haarlem, known for his ability to capture the likenesses of his contemporaries. This work is a fine example of the period's interest in documenting the lives of local figures through high-quality graphic reproduction. The clean lines and controlled shading reflect the disciplined approach required for copperplate engraving, resulting in a clear, legible image that has survived with significant detail.