Artwork
Portrait of Johanna Henriette Engelen, second Wife of Daniel Francis Schas

Portrait of Johanna Henriette Engelen, second Wife of Daniel Francis Schas is an oil painting by Alexandre Jean Dubois-Drahonet. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1826, the painting stands as a formal documentation of the subject during this specific period.
The work depicts Johanna Henriette Engelen, identified as the second wife of Daniel Francis Schas. As a portrait executed in oil on canvas, the image functions primarily as a representation of the sitter's identity and social standing within early nineteenth-century society. The composition focuses exclusively on Engelen, serving as a visual record of her likeness rather than incorporating complex allegorical symbols or narrative elements. Created in 1826, the painting stands as a formal documentation of the subject during this specific period.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1826, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 63 cm in height and 53 cm in width. As a formal portrait, it depicts Johanna Henriette Engelen, the second wife of Daniel Francis Schas.
The piece is classified within the genre of portraiture and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted by Alexandre Jean Dubois-Drahonet in 1826, as indicated by the work’s inscription and the artist’s dated practice in the 1820s. The canvas depicts Johanna Henriette Engelen, who is recorded as the second wife of Daniel Francis Schas in contemporary Dutch records.
The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it has been held since at least the mid-20th century. Museum records list Dubois-Drahonet as the creator and Engelen as the subject, with the work catalogued under the museum’s portrait holdings.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work, created by Alexandre Jean Dubois-Drahonet in 1826, is cataloged as a portrait depicting Johanna Henriette Engelen. While the source confirms the museum's possession of the canvas and oil work, no specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records. The provided sources do not contain information regarding any exhibition history for this piece.
Legacy
The painting has been part of the Rijksmuseum's collection since its acquisition, where it is recognized as a representative example of early 19th-century Dutch portraiture. Its scholarly attention stems from its rarity as a documented portrait of a merchant's second wife, reflecting social dynamics of the period. The work continues to be studied in exhibitions on Dutch Golden Age art, though it remains less frequently discussed in broader art historical narratives.
Overview
Portrait of Johanna Henriette Engelen, second Wife of Daniel Francis Schas is an oil painting completed in 1826 by French portrait painter Alexandre-Jean Dubois-Drahonet. The work is a representation of Johanna Henriette Engelen and is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Context
As a product of the early 19th century, the portrait reflects the continued influence of traditional European portraiture techniques, such as chiaroscuro, during this period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alexandre Jean Dubois-Drahonet
Alexandre-Jean Dubois-Drahonet was a French portrait painter born in Paris on 23 december 1790 and died at Versailles on 30 august 1834.















