Artwork

Portrait of Justus Tjeenk, one of the Founders of the Scientific Society of Zealand and Clergyman at Flushing

Portrait of Justus Tjeenk, one of the Founders of the Scientific Society of Zealand and Clergyman at Flushing is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Herman Frederik van Hengel. It dates from 1756 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The portrait was painted in oils on canvas in 1756. The work measures 84 cm in height and 69 cm in width, reflecting the portrait genre typical of mid-18th century Dutch painting. It depicts Justus Tjeenk, identified as a founder of the Scientific Society of Zealand and a clergyman at Flushing.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum and the Zeeuws Museum, institutions that jointly hold the work within their cultural heritage holdings.

The portrait of Justus Tjeenk was commissioned to mark his role as one of the founders of the Scientific Society of Zealand and his position as clergyman at Flushing. It was created in 1756 by Herman Frederik van Hengel, as documented in the work’s title and date.

The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum and the Zeeuws Museum, institutions that jointly hold the work within their cultural heritage holdings.

The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 84 cm by 69 cm.

Overview

Herman Frederik van Hengel’s 1756 oil portrait presents Justus Tjeenk, a noted clergyman and one of the founders of the Scientific Society of Zealand. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies mid‑18th‑century Dutch portraiture, focusing on the sitter’s dignified bearing against a subdued background.

Subject & Meaning

Tjeenk is shown with long, curling white hair and a solemn expression, emphasizing his scholarly and clerical stature. His gaze meets the viewer directly, while his raised right hand and bent left arm convey a sense of poised authority, reflecting his role in both religious and scientific circles.

Context

The portrait reflects the Enlightenment era’s respect for learned clergy who contributed to scientific societies. Tjeenk’s involvement with the Scientific Society of Zealand situates him within a network of intellectual exchange, and the painting serves as a visual record of that intersection between faith and reason in the Dutch Republic.