Who painted A young Painter?

A young Painter was painted by Adriaen van der Werff in 1680-01-01.

Where can I see A young Painter?

A young Painter is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is A young Painter?

A young Painter is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of A young Painter?

Museum-quality prints of A young Painter are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A young Painter

Adriaen van der Werff , 1690

A young Painter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van der Werff. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays a painter, serving as a straightforward genre portrait of an artist at work.

The work portrays a painter, serving as a straightforward genre portrait of an artist at work. Created in 1680 by Adriaen van der Werff, the painting focuses on the figure of the painter without additional allegorical elements or complex symbolic narratives described in the available records. As a portrait depicting a specific profession, the subject matter centers on the identity and presence of the artist rather than a broader mythological or historical scene.

Technique & Style

Adriaen van der Werff's A young Painter, executed in 1680, is an oil painting on a panel support. The work measures 17 cm in height and 12.5 cm in width, classifying it as a small-scale portrait depicting a painter. Created during the artist's early career, the piece exemplifies the meticulous handling characteristic of Van der Werff's style, utilizing oil pigments to achieve detailed realism on a solid wooden ground.

The painting remains in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, having been previously owned by Gijsbert de Clercq. Its formal qualities focus on the intimate portrayal of the subject, consistent with the Dutch portrait tradition of the late seventeenth century.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Adriaen van der Werff in 1680, as indicated by its inception date and the artist’s documented activity during that period.

The work entered the collection of Gijsbert de Clercq before passing to the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held. Its provenance is documented from de Clercq’s ownership through its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, and the painting remains in that institution’s collection.

A young Painter is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. According to Wikidata, the work is associated with the ownership history of Gijsbert de Clercq before entering the museum's holdings. The painting, executed in oil on panel, measures 17 cm in height by 12.5 cm in width.

No specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Overview

Adriaen van der Werff, a Dutch painter working at the close of the 17th century, completed the oil painting A Young Painter in 1690. The work belongs to the portrait genre and is presently part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. It exemplifies the refined, courtly aesthetic associated with the later Dutch Golden Age, a period during which van der Werff also produced portraits and mythological scenes for elite patrons.

Context

A Young Painter reflects the Dutch Golden Age’s interest in genre scenes that celebrate everyday professions with dignity. By portraying a painter within his own studio setting, van der Werff aligns the work with contemporary notions of artistic identity and the elevated status of the artist in late 17th‑century society.