Artwork
Portrait of Johan van Nijenborgh, Poet in Groningen
Portrait of Johan van Nijenborgh, Poet in Groningen 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
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a tin support, an unconventional choice that distinguishes it from typical canvas or panel portraits of the period.
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a tin support, an unconventional choice that distinguishes it from typical canvas or panel portraits of the period. Arnoud van Halen produced the work in 1716. Its small format, 11 cm in height by 9.5 cm in width, combined with the metallic ground, points to the intimate, jewel-like handling associated with this technique. The painting is classified as a portrait and forms part of the Rijksmuseum collection.
The use of oil on tin allowed for fine, enamel-smooth brushwork suited to a sitter's features, while the rigid metal panel required a controlled, deliberate application of paint rather than the broader gestural handling possible on canvas.
Overview
A portrait of Johan van Nijenborgh, a poet from Groningen, was created by Arnoud van Halen in 1716. The work is painted on tin and is now held at the Rijksmuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is depicted with wavy brown hair, a mustache, and a goatee, wearing a black robe with a white collar and a silver necklace. His attire and hairstyle convey a sense of elegance and refinement, reflecting his status as a poet.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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Portrait of Willem Jacobsz van Heemskerck, Poet and Engraver on Glass
Portrait of Jan van der Veen, Pharmacist and Poet in Deventer
Portrait of Marcus Zuërius van Boxhorn, Historian and Professor at Leiden
