Artwork
Portrait of Diederik van Durven (1676-1740)
Portrait of Diederik van Durven (1676-1740) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Hendrik van den Bosch. It dates from 1736 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Diederik Durven, a Dutch merchant and militia officer, rendered in life‑size format on copper. Van den Bosch emphasizes his status through fine clothing and a direct gaze that conveys authority and civic pride, reflecting 18th‑century ideals of personal honor and public service.
Technique & Style
The support measures 33 cm in height by 25 cm in width, producing an intimate, upright format typical of private likenesses intended for close domestic viewing.
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a copper support, a technique well suited to the precise, enamel-like finish associated with small-scale Dutch cabinet pictures of the period. The support measures 33 cm in height by 25 cm in width, producing an intimate, upright format typical of private likenesses intended for close domestic viewing. The copper ground would have allowed the artist to build up smooth, highly detailed passages of flesh, fabric, and lace with minimal visible brushwork, lending the surface a refined, polished quality.
As a formal portrait, the work is classified within the genre of portraiture and is held in the Rijksmuseum collection.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Diederik van Durven was created in 1736 by the artist Hendrik van den Bosch. Executed in oil paint on a copper support, the work measures 33 cm in height and 25 cm in width. The painting depicts Diederik van Durven, who lived from 1676 to 1740, and is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
While the specific commission details are not recorded in the provided sources, the work dates to the final years of the sitter's life.
Portrait of Diederik van Durven (1676-1740) is held by the Rijksmuseum with inventory number SK-C-1838. The work was displayed in the Rijksmuseum exhibition "Dutch Masters of the Golden Age" from March 15 to June 30, 2015.
The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Nederlandsch Museum voor Geschiedenis en Kunst in 1885, accession number SK-C-1838. It was featured in the 2015 exhibition "Dutch Masters of the Golden Age" held at the Rijksmuseum.
The artwork was created by Hendrik van den Bosch in 1736 and is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, as documented in its records.
The painting was exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in the 2015 exhibition "Dutch Masters of the Golden Age".
Overview
Portrait of Diederik van Durven is a 1736 copper painting by Hendrik van den Bosch, portraying its namesake subject, Diederik van Durven (1676-1740), now in the Rijksmuseum collection.
Context
The painting reflects 18th-century Dutch portraiture conventions, emphasizing the subject's status through attire and symbols like the helmet, which may allude to a military role or significant event.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrik van den Bosch made formal portraits of Dutch East India Company leaders. His brush captured men like Dirk van Cloon and Diederik van Durven, each shown in rich oil on copper, keeping their rank visible in lace…
Diederik van Durven (1729-1730)
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