Artwork
Portrait of Josina Cornelisdr van Esch
Portrait of Josina Cornelisdr 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
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Josina Cornelisdr van Esch, identified by the work's title as the sole subject of this 1632 portrait by Cornelius van Poelenburgh.
The painting depicts Josina Cornelisdr van Esch, identified by the work's title as the sole subject of this 1632 portrait by Cornelius van Poelenburgh. Executed in oil on a small copper support measuring 15.9 by 12.9 cm, the work functions as a straightforward representation of the sitter rather than an allegorical scene. As a portrait genre piece, the artwork serves to document the likeness and presence of Josina Cornelisdr van Esch during the Dutch Golden Age.
The sources provide no further details regarding specific symbolic attributes, iconographic elements, or deeper metaphorical meanings beyond the identification of the individual.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on a copper support, measuring approximately 15.9 cm high by 12.9 cm wide. Poelenburgh’s handling on copper is characteristically smooth and precise, allowing fine detail in the sitter’s features and attire. The medium, oil paint applied to a metallic ground, was a favored choice for his small-scale portraits, contributing to a luminous surface and refined tonal transitions.
As a portrait, the composition focuses on the individual likeness, reflecting the artist’s restrained, elegant style typical of his early 1630s output.
History & Provenance
Cornelius van Poelenburgh executed the Portrait of Josina Cornelisdr van Esch in 1632. The artist created this small-scale work in Dordrecht, utilizing oil paint applied to a copper support. The painting measures 15.9 cm in height and 12.9 cm in width.
Historically, the work has been held within the collection of the Rijksdienst Beeldende Kunst and is currently located at the Rijksmuseum.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is currently located. According to the available records, it is also associated with the holdings of the Rijksdienst Beeldende Kunst, the Dutch government service responsible for works of art in public collections.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Created in 1632 by Dutch painter Cornelius van Poelenburgh, this portrait depicts a young woman named Josina Cornelisdr van Esch. Executed on a circular copper plate, the work measures modestly and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. Poelenburgh, known for his small, finely detailed compositions, applied his characteristic precision to this intimate likeness.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667), was a Dutch landscape painter and draughtsman.
