Artwork

Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer

Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer, by Ferdinand Bol, oil, 1650
Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer, by Ferdinand Bol, oil, 1650

Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ferdinand Bol. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

It belongs to the Rijksmuseum collection and was previously owned by Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll before entering the museum's holdings.

The portrait shows Maria Rey, wife of merchant Roelof Meulenaer, rendered by Ferdinand Bol circa 1650. It depicts her in 17th-century Dutch attire, emphasizing her social standing and marital status. The work functions as both a family record and a statement of bourgeois identity within Amsterdam's elite circles. Its composition and dignified presentation reflect contemporary portrait conventions that celebrated domestic virtue and economic prosperity.

The painting measures 118 cm by 96.5 cm and is executed in oil on canvas. It belongs to the Rijksmuseum collection and was previously owned by Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll before entering the museum's holdings.

Technique & Style

Ferdinand Bol executed the portrait of Maria Rey in oil paint on canvas, a standard combination for mid-seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. The work measures 118 cm in height by 96.5 cm in width, a substantial upright format suited to a formal half- or three-quarter-length depiction of a sitter of standing social rank. The medium and support are consistent with Bol's broader practice as a pupil of Rembrandt, whose studio tradition shaped his handling of layered oil glazes and tonal modeling on canvas.

The portrait belongs to the genre of portraiture and is classified as a painting within the Rijksmuseum collection. Specific information regarding the painting's present condition, conservation history, or particular stylistic handling is not documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Maria Rey (1630/31–1703) was painted by Ferdinand Bol in 1650, as indicated by the work’s inception date and the artist’s known activity in that year. The painting belongs to the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, where it is catalogued as part of the museum’s collection. Before entering the museum, the work was owned by Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll, whose name appears in the Rijksmuseum’s records as the former owner. The painting’s dimensions are recorded as 118 cm in height and 96.5 cm in width.

The portrait of Maria Rey is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work is an oil painting on canvas executed by Ferdinand Bol in 1650. Prior to its current location, the painting was owned by Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll.

The provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any exhibition history for this artwork.

Overview

Ferdinand Bol’s oil portrait of Maria Rey, created circa 1650, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s focus on individual likeness and domestic dignity. The work presents the sitter in a dark, richly textured gown with a high white collar, a decorative headpiece, and a hand‑held fan, set against a muted backdrop that hints at a distant landscape of trees and sky.

Portrait of a woman, thought to be Lucretia Boudaen
Portrait of a woman, thought to be Lucretia Boudaen, Jacob van Loo

Artist & collection

Portrait of Ferdinand Bol

Artist

Ferdinand Bol

Ferdinand Bol (24 June 1616 - 24 August 1680) was a Dutch painter, etcher and draftsman.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer?

Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer was painted by Ferdinand Bol in 1650.

Where can I see Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer?

Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer?

Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer?

Museum-quality prints of Portret van Maria Rey (1630/31-1703), wife of Roelof Meulenaer are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.