Artwork
Memorial Portrait of Moses ter Borch
Memorial Portrait of Moses ter Borch is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard ter Borch. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These specific elements function as iconographic markers within the composition, likely alluding to the sitter's military associations and the passage of time.
The work serves as a posthumous memorial to Moses ter Borch, depicting the deceased man in a formal portrait format. The subject is portrayed wearing body armor and a cravat, accompanied by a dog and a watch. These specific elements function as iconographic markers within the composition, likely alluding to the sitter's military associations and the passage of time.
By presenting these attributes alongside the figure of Moses ter Borch, the painting operates as a commemorative piece intended to preserve his memory.
Technique & Style
Memorial Portrait of Moses ter Borch is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, as indicated by its medium and material descriptions. The work is a collaborative effort between Gerard ter Borch and Gesina ter Borch, reflecting joint handling of the composition. It portrays Moses ter Borch as a man wearing a cravat, accompanied by a dog, a watch, and body armor, emphasizing detailed costume and accessory rendering typical of portraiture.
Classified as a portrait, the painting belongs to the genre of Dutch seventeenth‑century portraiture. The provided sources do not record any information regarding the painting’s current condition.
History & Provenance
Memorial Portrait of Moses ter Borch was painted in 1668 by Gerard ter Borch (with possible collaboration from Gesina ter Borch), as indicated by the work’s inception date and attribution.
The painting entered the collection of Thomas Jefferson Bryan, who owned it and displayed it in his Bryan Gallery of Christian Art; subsequently it became part of the holdings of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the New York Historical Society.
Overview
Gerard ter Borch completed the Memorial Portrait of Moses ter Borch in 1668, an oil painting dedicated to his half-brother. This work, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, departs from his usual genre scenes to present a somber, symbolic depiction. It features a young man in elegant attire within a rocky landscape, surrounded by objects that evoke reflection on mortality.
Context
Gerard ter Borch was a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age, recognized primarily for his intimate genre scenes that often captured domestic life with subtle psychological depth. While this portrait is a departure in subject, it shares the artist's characteristic meticulous detail and refined execution. His innovative approach to depicting everyday life and his skillful use of light influenced contemporaries, including Johannes Vermeer, shaping the trajectory of Dutch painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gerard ter Borch (Dutch:; December 1617 – 8 December 1681), also known as Gerard Terburg (Dutch: ), was a Dutch Golden Age painter mainly of genre subjects.
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