Artwork
Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina (1770-1819). Prinses van Oranje-Nassau. Daughter of Willem V & Wilhelmina van Pruisen
Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina (1770-1819). Prinses van Oranje-Nassau. Daughter of Willem V & Wilhelmina van Pruisen is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist De Saint-Ligié. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Classified as a painting, the work is distinguished by its use of ivory as the primary support material.
The portrait of Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina was executed in 1783 by the artist De Saint-Ligié. Classified as a painting, the work is distinguished by its use of ivory as the primary support material. This choice of medium places the piece within the tradition of miniature portraiture, where the smooth, dense surface of ivory allows for delicate handling and fine detail.
Stylistically, the work functions as a formal portrait, capturing the likeness of the Princess of Orange-Nassau with the precision characteristic of the late 18th century.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina, Princess of Orange-Nassau, was produced by the artist De Saint-Ligié in 1783, executed on ivory in the portrait genre. The work dates to the same year the sitter was thirteen years old, suggesting it was likely created as a formal likeness during her youth as the daughter of Willem V and Wilhelmina van Pruisen. The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held.
No further details about the original commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to the museum's acquisition are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1792 by the French miniaturist De Saint‑Ligié, this ivory portrait presents Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina, Princess of Orange‑Nassau. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the refined portraiture typical of late‑eighteenth‑century European courts.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is the daughter of William V, Prince of Orange, and Wilhelmina of Prussia, known in Dutch as Princess Louise of Orange‑Nassau. Her composed expression and modest pose convey the decorum expected of a royal woman, while the inclusion of delicate floral ornaments hints at her genteel status and personal taste.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
