Portrait of Cornelis Ploos van Amstel (1726-1798)

The portrait was commissioned by the sitter himself and painted in 1758 by George van der Mijn for display in the Mauritshuis, where it remains in the collection.

The work entered the museum's holdings shortly after its creation and has been part of the permanent collection since its acquisition.

The portrait of Cornelis Ploos van Amstel was created by George van der Mijn in 1758 and is housed in the Mauritshuis. Van der Mijn specialized in Dutch portraiture during the mid-18th century, a period marked by a continuation of the Dutch Golden Age's emphasis on individual likeness and status representation. The painting depicts Ploos van Amstel seated with attributes of scholarly and commercial authority, including a wig, breeches, and writing implement, reflecting his position within elite Dutch society.

Its composition and detail illustrate contemporary conventions in portraiture that balanced realism with symbolic elements to convey the sitter's social standing.

The portrait remains in the Mauritshuis collection and is regularly featured in exhibitions on 18th-century Dutch portraiture, underscoring its enduring reputation as a benchmark of Dutch Golden Age painting. Its detailed depiction of attire and accessories has informed subsequent scholarship on elite Dutch society, while the work's scholarly catalogues continue to cite it as a key example of George van der Mijn's output.

George van der Mijn’s 1758 oil portrait presents Cornelis Ploos van Amstel, a Dutch figure of the eighteenth century, seated in a simple chair. The work resides in the collection of the Mauritshuis, where it is displayed among other period pieces.