Hals, Frans (circa 1582-1666) was the first great artist of the 17th-century Dutch school and is regarded as one of the most brilliant of all portraitists. Almost all his works are portraits and even those that are not (some genre scenes, and an occasional religious picture) are portrait-like in character. His greatest gift as a portraitist was to capture a sense of fleeting movement and expression and thereby convey a compelling feeling of vivacity.

"The Laughing Cavalier" (1624) Oil on canvas, 86 x 69 cm. The Wallace Collection, London, UK.

"Buffoon playing a lute" (circa 1623-24) Oil on canvas, 70 × 62 cm - 27.56 × 24.41 in. Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

"The company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz" (1633-37) Oil on canvas, 209 × 429 cm - 82.28 × 168.9 in. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Nederlands.

"The company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz (left)" (1633-37) Oil on canvas, 209 × 429 cm - 82.28 × 168.9 in. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Nederlands.

"The company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz (right)" (1633-37) Oil on canvas, 209 × 429 cm - 82.28 × 168.9 in. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Nederlands.

"Portrait of Isaac Abrahamsz" (1626) Oil on canvas, 79.7 × 65.1 cm - 31.38 × 25.63 in. Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada.

"The Gipsy Girl" (1628-30) Oil on panel, 58 × 52 cm - 22.83 × 20.47 in. Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

"Malle Babbe" (1633-35) Oil on canvas, 75 × 64 cm - 29.53 × 25.2 in. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany.

Text source: various.