What movement is Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden?

Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden

Arnoud van Halen , 1716

Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden 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

It belongs to the portrait genre and was originally owned by Arnoud van Halen and later by Michiel de Roode before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

The painting portrays Tobias Gutberleth, a learned man active in Leeuwarden during the early 18th century. He is shown as a figure of scholarly distinction, reflecting the cultural prominence of the city’s literati. The work functions as a conventional portrait that emphasizes intellectual status through formal representation rather than narrative symbolism.

Its creation in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen captures the subject within the artistic and social context of Friesland’s elite.

The portrait was painted by Arnoud van Halen and is executed in oil on tin, measuring 11 by 9.5 centimeters. It belongs to the portrait genre and was originally owned by Arnoud van Halen and later by Michiel de Roode before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

The subject’s attire and composed demeanor signal refinement and erudition, aligning with typical iconographic conventions for men of letters in Dutch portraiture of the period. The painting’s restrained detail and focus on facial expression underscore themes of learning and civic identity associated with Gutberleth’s role in the community.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a tin support. The work is classified as a painting within the portrait genre. Physically, the piece measures 11 cm in height and 9.5 cm in width.

The combination of oil medium with a metallic tin ground distinguishes its material composition from more traditional canvas or panel supports common to the period.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Tobias Gutberleth was created in 1716 by the artist Arnoud van Halen. Executed in oil paint on a tin support, the work measures 11 cm in height and 9.5 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the painting was originally owned by its creator, Arnoud van Halen, before passing into the possession of Michiel de Roode. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

The Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work was created in 1716 by Arnoud van Halen and is executed in oil paint on a tin support. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records, nor is there documented information regarding its exhibition history.

Legacy

Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden, painted by Arnoud van Halen in 1716, entered the Rijksmuseum collection, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings. The work is cited in the museum’s catalogue as a representative example of 18th‑century Dutch portraiture, reflecting the cultural prominence of literati in Friesland. Its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum’s displays has contributed to renewed scholarly interest in van Halen’s role within the Dutch Golden Age portrait tradition.

Overview

Arnoud van Halen’s 1716 portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, a noted literary figure from Leeuwarden, is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. Executed on a tin support, the work presents the sitter in an oval format, framed by a gold border with a textured, carved edge.