Artwork
Johan de Liefde (c 1619-73), Vice admiral
Johan de Liefde (c 1619-73), Vice admiral is an oil painting by Bartholomeus van der Helst. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Johan de Liefde in his role as vice admiral, rendered by Bartholomeus van der Helst in 1668. Van der Helst emphasizes the sitter’s authority through formal pose and fine detail, reflecting the prestige of his naval office. The work, housed in the Rijksmuseum, conveys both personal distinction and the broader symbolism of Dutch maritime power in the 17th century.
Technique & Style
The portrait was executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 139 cm in height by 122 cm in width.
The portrait was executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 139 cm in height by 122 cm in width. It depicts Johan de Liefde in his capacity as vice admiral, rendered with the formal composition and restrained palette characteristic of mid‑17th‑century Dutch portraiture. The handling of light and detail reflects the technical proficiency of Bartholomeus van der Helst, whose style combines precise facial rendering with a smooth surface finish typical of his mature period.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Johan de Liefde was produced by Bartholomeus van der Helst in 1668, executed in oil paint on canvas. The work was created that same year as a depiction of the Dutch vice admiral, who is named as its main subject.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. Beyond its current institutional home and the date of its creation, the sources do not document an earlier ownership chain, a commissioning party, or any intervening provenance prior to the Rijksmuseum's holdings.
The portrait of Johan de Liefde is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, as recorded in the painting's Wikidata entry, which lists both the collection and the location of the work as the Rijksmuseum.
No accession number, catalogue reference, or exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Bartholomeus van der Helst executed this oil portrait of Johan de Liefde, a Dutch vice admiral, in 1668. The work exemplifies the portrait tradition of the Dutch Golden Age and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. Van der Helst, a prominent painter of his time, was frequently commissioned by Amsterdam’s elite and members of the Stadtholder’s circle.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613 – buried 16 December 1670) was a Dutch painter. Considered to be one of the leading portrait painters of the Dutch Golden Age, his elegant portraits gained him the patronage of…
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