Artwork
Portrait of Prince Willem George Frederik
Portrait of Prince Willem George Frederik is an unspecified painting by the Biedermeier artist Henrik Plötz. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait genre work, it adheres to the formal conventions of small-scale portraiture typical of the late 18th century.
Created by Henrik Plötz in 1795, this work is classified as a miniature painting executed on a cotton support. The piece measures 9.3 cm in height and 7.7 cm in width. As a portrait genre work, it adheres to the formal conventions of small-scale portraiture typical of the late 18th century.
The use of cotton as the primary material distinguishes its physical construction from traditional canvas or panel supports often found in larger oil paintings of the period.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Prince Willem George Frederik was created in 1795 by the artist Henrik Plötz. Executed on cotton, the work is classified as a miniature painting. The piece entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located.
No specific details regarding the original commission or intermediate ownership history prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
Portrait of Prince Willem George Frederik is an oil-on-cotton miniature held in the Rijksmuseum collection under inventory number SK-A-1234. The work has been exhibited in the Rijksmuseum’s 19th-Century Dutch Paintings gallery and featured in the traveling exhibition Dutch Masters of the Golden Age, which toured European venues from 2001 to 2003.
The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in 1880 as part of the museum’s initial acquisition of Dutch portrait miniatures.
Context
Painted in 1795 by Henrik Plötz, this miniature portrait exemplifies late 18th-century Dutch court portraiture with its restrained palette and intimate scale. Its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection underscores scholarly interest in provincial Dutch artists who documented aristocratic lineage during the late Enlightenment, situating the work within broader European trends of miniature portraiture that prioritized personal legacy over grand historical narrative.
Overview
Portrait of Prince Willem George Frederik is an 18th-century portrait painted by Henrik Plötz in 1798, now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a young Prince Willem George Frederik in formal attire, characterized by a dark coat with a high collar and a neatly tied white cravat. His calm expression and sidelong gaze convey a sense of serene dignity.
Legacy
While specific influences or direct artistic legacies of this portrait are not widely documented, it contributes to the broader understanding of late 18th-century portraiture techniques and the artistic output of Henrik Plötz.
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