R.E. PENNING art critic:

“Dick Stapel, a refined portrait painter”

There are portraitists and other painters. That is to say that a portrait- painter is not just supposed to present a striking likeness, but also a good painting that is interesting as such. Dick Stapel paints with thin layers, as in a watercolour; his figures are relaxed, usually in full length or at knee length. After the first sketch the face and other details are inserted, but the artist never looses his light touch, which conveyes charm and delicacy to his work.