Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia (1751-1820). Wife of Prince Willem V, in the Temple of the Arts

The painting was created in 1775 as a commissioned portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange, by Benjamin Samuel Bolomey. It was executed in oil on panel and has been part of the Rijksmuseum collection since its acquisition, remaining on display in Amsterdam. The work measures 44.5 cm in height and 31 cm in width.

The portrait of Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia by Benjamin Samuel Bolomey is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is identified as a painting on panel measuring 44.5 cm in height by 31 cm in width. Dated to 1775, the work is catalogued as a portrait-allegory depicting Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange. No exhibition history beyond its presence in the Rijksmuseum collection is documented in the available sources.

The portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia as an allegorical figure in Bolomey's Temple of the Arts reflects the Enlightenment-era fascination with moral allegory and royal patronage, situating it within the broader European tradition of symbolic representation of aristocracy. The work's dual role as both portrait and allegory illustrates how artists of the late 18th century employed visual symbolism to convey political and cultural narratives, particularly within Dutch and Prussian court circles. This painting thus contributes to understanding the intersection of art, power, and ideology in pre-Napoleonic Europe.

The painting's enduring legacy lies in its dual role as a formal royal portrait and an allegorical representation of virtue, securing its place in Dutch art historical narratives. Its composition and symbolic elements have been frequently referenced in studies of 18th-century portraiture and neoclassical allegory, influencing later interpretations of royal iconography. The work remains accessible to scholars and the public through its continued display at the Rijksmuseum, where it contributes to the museum's presentation of Dutch historical figures.

Benjamin Samuel Bolomey’s 1775 oil painting depicts Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia, later Princess of Orange, seated before a keyboard instrument within an imagined temple. She is dressed in a green gown, crowned, and holds a floral garland, while a group of semi‑nude muses and a cherubic figure attend her, playing various instruments. The composition combines portraiture with allegorical elements, typical of late Rococo court art.