Artwork
Portrait of Jeremias de Decker, Poet in Amsterdam
Portrait of Jeremias de Decker, Poet in Amsterdam 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
5 cm) suggest it was intended for private rather than public display, underscoring its role as an intimate commemoration of a recognized literary figure.
The painting depicts Jeremias de Decker, a 17th-century Dutch poet, presented as the sole subject in a portrait format. The work emphasizes his identity as a poet through the straightforward representation of an individual, likely conveying the cultural value placed on literary figures in Amsterdam during the period. Created in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen, the painting is rendered on copper, a support associated with refined, collectible works in the Dutch Republic.
The small dimensions (11 × 8.5 cm) suggest it was intended for private rather than public display, underscoring its role as an intimate commemoration of a recognized literary figure.
The composition lacks overt symbolic props, focusing instead on the individual’s portrayal, which aligns with the Dutch tradition of portraiture that prioritized likeness and status over elaborate allegory.
Technique & Style
Created in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen, the Portrait of Jeremias de Decker, Poet in Amsterdam is executed in oil paint on a copper support. This small-scale work measures 11 cm in height and 8.5 cm in width, characteristic of the intimate copper portraits popular in the period. The use of copper as a ground allows for a smooth surface that facilitates fine brushwork and precise rendering of the sitter's features.
As a portrait genre piece, the painting focuses on the depiction of the poet Jeremias de Decker, utilizing the reflective quality of the metal to enhance the luminosity of the oil medium.
History & Provenance
The portrait of the Amsterdam poet Jeremias de Decker was created in 1716 by the artist Arnoud van Halen. Executed in oil paint on a copper support, the work measures 11 cm in height and 8.5 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum.
While the specific commission details and earlier ownership history are not provided in the available records, the work's inception is firmly established as 1716.
The portrait is held jointly by the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, according to the Wikidata record for the work. As a small copper panel measuring 11 by 8.5 cm, it falls within the holdings of these two Amsterdam institutions.
No specific inventory or accession numbers are recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Arnoud van Halen’s 1716 portrait presents the Dutch poet Jeremás de Decker on a modestly sized oval copper plate. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies early eighteenth‑century Dutch portraiture, focusing attention on the sitter through restrained composition and subdued lighting.
Context
During the early 1700s, Amsterdam’s cultural elite often commissioned portraiture to affirm their status. De Decker, a noted poet, would have been a fitting subject for such a work, aligning his literary reputation with the visual prestige afforded by a copper portrait.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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