Godard van Reede (1588-1648), lord of Nederhorst. Delegate of the province of Utrecht at the peace conference at Münster (1646-48)

Gerard ter Borch painted Godard van Reede, lord of Nederhorst, who served as Utrecht's delegate at the 1646-48 Münster peace talks. Ter Borch, a Dutch portraitist active in the mid-17th century, captured his subject in oil on copper around 1646. The work measures 14.5 cm by 11 cm and resides in the Rijksmuseum collection. It exemplifies Dutch Golden Age portraiture's focus on civic and diplomatic figures amid complex European negotiations.

The portrait of Godard van Reede by Gerard ter Borch II remained in the Rijksmuseum collection, where it was studied by 19th-century Dutch art historians for its restrained composition and psychological depth, contributing to a renewed appreciation of Dutch Golden Age portraiture beyond the more famous works of Rembrandt and Hals. Contemporary scholarship notes its influence on later depictions of provincial nobility, particularly in how it rendered diplomatic figures with a blend of authority and subtlety, a nuance that resonated with 19th-century interpretations of statecraft. The painting’s technical handling of oil on copper was cited in museum records as a model for conservation practices involving metal supports.

This 1646 portrait on copper, created by Gerard ter Borch during the Dutch Golden Age, depicts Godard van Reede, lord of Nederhorst, in a somber, detailed likeness. The oval-framed work focuses on van Reede's face and shoulders against a plain black background, emphasizing his serious demeanor.

The subject, Godard van Reede, is portrayed in his capacity as a delegate from Utrecht to the Münster peace conference (1646-1648). His attire, including a white lace collar and dark outfit, reflects his formal role, while the overall solemnity of the portrait may allude to the gravity of his diplomatic responsibilities.