Artwork
Portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch
Portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The use of copper as a ground material provided a smooth, non-absorbent surface that allowed for precise brushwork and luminous color application.
Created in 1632 by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, the Portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch is an oil painting executed on a copper support. The work measures 15.8 cm in height and 12.7 cm in width, reflecting the compact scale typical of cabinet portraits from this period. The use of copper as a ground material provided a smooth, non-absorbent surface that allowed for precise brushwork and luminous color application.
As a portrait genre piece, the handling emphasizes detailed facial features and formal presentation within a small format. The painting remains in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch was produced by Cornelius van Poelenburgh in 1632, executed in oil on copper and identified as a portrait made in Dordrecht. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located.
No further details about the circumstances of its commission, the chain of ownership prior to the museum's acquisition, or later provenance are documented in the available sources.
The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued as a painting by Cornelius van Poelenburgh on copper, dated 1632 and produced in Dordrecht.
No specific inventory or accession number, nor any documented exhibition history, is recorded in the available sources.
Context
The painting Portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch by Cornelius van Poelenburgh exemplifies 17th-century Dutch portraiture, created in 1632 on copper panel. Its depiction of merchant Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch reflects the growing prominence of civic leaders in Dordrecht's mercantile class. The work's technical execution and subject matter align with contemporary portrait conventions while demonstrating Poelenburgh's transition from Dordrecht to Utrecht, influencing later Dutch portraitists. It remains part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, preserving its historical significance within Dutch Golden Age art.
Overview
Portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch is a 1632 copper painting by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, a Dutch artist known for Italianate landscapes with small figures. This work, however, deviates from his typical genre, presenting a focused portrait of a young child.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a light-haired, presumably young Cornelis Cornelisz van Esch, depicted in contemporary attire with a white lace collar and patterned dress. The child's calm yet curious expression and clasped hands convey a sense of youthful innocence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667), was a Dutch landscape painter and draughtsman.
