10 Hidden Details You Never Noticed In Famous Paintings

Cornelis van der Geest was a prominent spice merchant and hatter in 1600s; he was also a collector. And not just a few items, works by some of the greatest artists of all time.

Willem van Haecht curated van der Geest's collection and was a talented artist in his own right; he painted 'The Gallery Of Cornelis van der Geest' in 1628, as an idealised look at the man's collection.

Even the guests depicted in the piece are idealised, with guests including Rubens, van der Geest himself and Anthony van Dyck (for whom the facial hair style is named).

All the paintings are based on real works of art, including one of a naked woman that is actually a missing Van Eyck. It's an impressive work of art that depicts other pieces in their own styles but the gallery also contains a very small self portrait of the artist himself.

In the doorway leading out of the grand hall you can see a young man sheepishly looking at the people who have come to examine the gallery: this is Willem van Haecht. The look on his face is probably due to his nervousness of the people not putting things back where they belong.