Artwork
Portrait of Johan van der Does the Younger, Librarian in Leiden

Portrait of Johan van der Does the Younger, Librarian in Leiden 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
These visual cues reinforce his identity as a learned individual and highlight the importance of scholarship in Leiden during the early 1700s.
The portrait shows Johan van der Does the Younger in his role as librarian, wearing attire typical of 18th-century scholarly figures. He is depicted holding a book, emphasizing his scholarly pursuits, while the background features a modest interior with a desk and shelving that reference a library setting. These visual cues reinforce his identity as a learned individual and highlight the importance of scholarship in Leiden during the early 1700s.
The painting thus serves as both a personal record and a broader commentary on the cultural value of librarianship in the Dutch Republic.
The work was created by Arnoud van Halen in 1716 using oil paint on tin, and it remains part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, underscoring its historical and artistic significance.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on tin support, measuring 11 cm by 9.5 cm, created in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen for Johan van der Does the Younger, who served as librarian in Leiden. The composition presents a conventional portrait format with a restrained palette and precise rendering of the sitter’s features, reflecting the formal stylistic conventions of early 18th‑century Dutch portraiture. The surface condition remains stable, with no documented alterations or damage noted in the available records.
History & Provenance
Arnoud van Halen painted Portrait of Johan van der Does the Younger, Librarian in Leiden in 1716. The work was created for display in Leiden and later entered the collection of Arnoud van Halen before passing to Michiel de Roode. It now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The painting is executed in oil on tin and measures 11 by 9.5 cm.
The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. According to the available records, the painting was owned at different points by the artist Arnoud van Halen and by Michiel de Roode before entering the museum's holdings. No accession number is indicated in the sources provided.
No specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Arnoud van Halen’s 1716 portrait captures Johan van der Does the Younger, who served as librarian in Leiden. Executed on a tin support, the work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. The composition centers the sitter in an oval gold frame adorned with a leaf motif, emphasizing his dignified presence.
Context
The work exemplifies early‑18th‑century Dutch portrait conventions, where civic officials and scholars were depicted with restrained elegance. Van Halen’s attention to clothing texture and facial expression aligns with contemporary expectations for representing learned men in a manner that conveys both authority and modesty.
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