Artwork
Portrait of Jan van der Veen, Pharmacist and Poet in Deventer
Portrait of Jan van der Veen, Pharmacist and Poet in Deventer is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Arnoud van Halen. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Jan van der Veen, a pharmacist and poet from Deventer, captured in a formal portrait that emphasizes his scholarly and civic roles.
The painting shows Jan van der Veen, a pharmacist and poet from Deventer, captured in a formal portrait that emphasizes his scholarly and civic roles. He is depicted holding a book and a mortar, attributes that signal his expertise in pharmacy and his literary activity. The work functions as a visual record of his dual identity, combining professional status with intellectual pursuits, and reflects the cultural value placed on learned trades in early 18th‑century Netherlands.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on tin, measuring 11 cm by 9.5 cm, and depicts the pharmacist and poet Jan van der Veen. It was created in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen, who employed the medium of oil paint on a tin support. The formal composition reflects typical 18th‑century portrait conventions, with a restrained palette and careful rendering of texture on the metal surface.
The painting’s condition and handling history are documented through its provenance, which traces ownership from the artist to Michiel de Roode, though specific conservation records are not detailed in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Jan van der Veen was created in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen, executed in oil on a small tin support measuring 11 by 9.5 cm. According to the documented ownership chain, the work was held by the artist Arnoud van Halen and subsequently by Michiel de Roode, before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held.
No information is available in the provided sources regarding the circumstances of the commission, the relationship between the sitter and the painter, or the specific chain of custody prior to its arrival at the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
Arnoud van Halen’s 1716 portrait presents Jan van der Veen, a pharmacist and poet from Deventer, rendered on a tin support. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and is framed in an ornate gilded case that includes a modestly projecting shelf at its base.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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