Artwork
Portrait of Jan Maurits Quinkhard, Painter
Portrait of Jan Maurits Quinkhard, Painter is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Cornelis Wever. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
No additional iconographic elements or symbolic objects are described in the available records beyond the depiction of the sitter.
The painting depicts Jan Maurits Quinkhard, a painter, serving as the sole main subject of this 1771 portrait by Cornelis Wever. As a straightforward genre work, the piece functions primarily as a visual record of the artist himself rather than an allegorical composition rich in hidden symbolism. The work represents a direct likeness of Quinkhard, capturing his identity within the context of his profession.
No additional iconographic elements or symbolic objects are described in the available records beyond the depiction of the sitter.
Technique & Style
The work is executed on canvas using oil paint, a conventional combination for 18th‑century Dutch portraiture. The canvas support is primed and stretched, allowing the artist to apply layered brushwork that defines facial features with modest chiaroscuro. Brushstrokes remain visible, contributing to a restrained yet lifelike rendering of Jan Maurits Quinkhard’s physiognomy.
The painting’s surface shows typical craquelure associated with age but no significant condition issues have been documented. Its formal composition features a three‑quarter view, dark drapery, and a muted palette that emphasizes the sitter’s status without ostentation.
History & Provenance
The portrait is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. According to Wikidata records, it was previously owned by Barthold van Riemsdijk before entering the museum's holdings. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
The painting, executed in oil on canvas in 1771, measures 48 cm in height by 41 cm in width. It depicts Jan Maurits Quinkhard and was created by Cornelis Wever.
Overview
Cornelis Wever’s 1771 canvas presents a seated portrait of the Dutch painter Jan Maurits Quinkhard. The work resides in the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies a formal, mid‑18th‑century approach to commemorating a fellow artist through portraiture.
Context
The painting reflects the 18th‑century Dutch tradition of artist‑to‑artist portraiture, a genre that reinforced professional networks and celebrated individual achievement. Its compositional restraint and emphasis on character align with the period’s broader aesthetic values of modesty and realism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
This Dutch artist painted portraits in the 18th century, capturing people exactly as they looked.
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