The article discusses some portraits by Rembrandt in connection with theories of rhetoric. Point of departure is the posthumous portrait of J. C. Silvius which is compared to the artist's portraits of C. Claesz. Anslo and with his earlier portrait of Silvius. The analysis focuses on formal and decorous problems connected with the representation of speech in portraits, including a discussion of Vondel's famous four lines on Anslo's portrait as well as on other examples of the tradition they belong to.

In comparison with Rembrandt's portrait of Jan Asselyn the means of characterization to be derived from rhetorical actio is discussed.