Artwork
Portrait of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge

Portrait of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Andries van den Berg. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
He holds a sword in his right hand and wears a ribbon of the Order of the Dutch Lion on his right shoulder, along with decorations from other orders.
The portrait shows Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge standing with a beard, wearing a dark formal coat adorned with gold embroidery featuring oak motifs and a crowned W. The embroidery incorporates oak leaves and acorns intertwined with laurel branches and cups. He holds a sword in his right hand and wears a ribbon of the Order of the Dutch Lion on his right shoulder, along with decorations from other orders. A visible hilt of a dagger appears on his left side, and the Van Lansberge family coat of arms is painted in the upper left corner.
The work was painted several years after his term as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (1875–1880) and is signed and dated 'A. v.d. Berg: 1887' in the lower right.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on canvas measuring 123.5 cm in height by 98 cm in width, created in 1887. It depicts Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge in a formal pose against a neutral background, wearing a dark bureaucratic costume with blue wool fabric, gold embroidery, and a ribbon of the Order of the Dutch Lion. The embroidery features oak motifs interwoven with laurel and acorn elements, and a sword hilt is visible on his left side. The painting bears the signature 'A. v.d. Berg: 1887' in the lower right corner.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge was painted by Andries van den Berg in 1887 as part of a portrait gallery of governors-general of the Dutch East Indies commissioned for display at the Palace of Rijswijk in Batavia. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam after 67 portraits from the Rijswijk gallery were transferred there in January 1950. It remains in the Rijksmuseum's holdings today.
The painting is signed and dated 'A. v.d. Berg: 1887' in the lower right corner. It depicts Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge, who served as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1875 to 1880, wearing ceremonial robes including the insignia of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. The portrait measures 123.5 cm in height and 98 cm in width.
The Portrait of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, with the collection also associated with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and the Bronbeek museum. Originally created for the governors-general portrait gallery at Paleis Rijswijk in Batavia, the work was transferred to the Rijksmuseum in January 1950 alongside 66 other portraits from the series. The painting depicts Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge, who served as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1875 to 1880, and was executed by Andries van den Berg in 1887.
Context
Created in 1887 by Andries van den Berg, the Portrait of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge serves as a specific document within the official series of governors-general of the Dutch East Indies. The work depicts the former governor-general in his ceremonial uniform, characterized by dark blue cloth with gold embroidery and specific insignia, reflecting his tenure from 1875 to 1880. Painted several years after his term ended, the portrait was originally commissioned for the governors-general gallery at the Rijswijk Palace in Batavia.
It is part of a larger group of sixty-seven portraits by van den Berg, which includes depictions of James Loudon and Cornelis Theodorus Elout. In January 1950, this collection was transferred to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, securing the painting's place within the national heritage of the Netherlands.
Legacy
The portrait's legacy is anchored in its representation of colonial-era figures and its presence in major Dutch cultural institutions. It was created as part of a portrait gallery of governors-general for the Rijksmuseum's collection, later transferred from Batavia to Amsterdam in 1950. The work is held by the Rijksmuseum and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection at Bronbeek, reflecting its institutional recognition.
Its detailed depiction of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge's colonial administration and honors, such as the Order of the Dutch Lion, underscores its historical significance in Dutch colonial narratives.
Overview
The Portrait of Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge is an oil painting created by Andries van den Berg in 1894. It is a formal representation of a man in military attire, held at the Rijksmuseum.
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