Artwork
Portrait of Theodoor van Snakenburg, Jurist and Poet in Leiden
Portrait of Theodoor van Snakenburg, Jurist and Poet in Leiden is an oil painting by Hieronymus van der Mij. It dates from 1743 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition reflects the sitter's scholarly and literary reputation, aligning with his status as a jurist and poet in Leiden.
The painting portrays the Leiden jurist and poet Theodoor van Snakenburg, identified as the main subject in the source. It was commissioned by Michiel de Roode and later passed through the collections of Michiel de Roode, Adolph Staring, and Jacoba Henriette Magdalena de Mol van Otterloo before entering the Rijksmuseum. The work was created in 1743 on copper and is classified as an oil painting portrait.
The composition reflects the sitter's scholarly and literary reputation, aligning with his status as a jurist and poet in Leiden.
Technique & Style
The work is executed on a copper support, a medium noted in the records. Paint application shows oil-based pigments layered to render fine facial detail and the sitter's attire with restrained brushwork. The surface retains its original handling characteristics, exhibiting a smooth, slightly reflective finish typical of 18th‑century copper panels.
Formal composition places the figure upright against a muted backdrop, emphasizing the sitter's status through precise rendering of facial features and the delicate handling of light on the fabric.
History & Provenance
The portrait was commissioned by Michiel de Roode, who was also its first recorded owner. By the 19th century, the painting had passed to Adolph Staring, and later to Jacoba Henriette Magdalena de Mol van Otterloo. It is now held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work was painted in 1743 by Hieronymus van der Mij on copper, using oil paint.
The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, inventoried as SK-C-1703.
It was first recorded in the possession of Michiel de Roode, the sitter’s son-in-law. By the early twentieth century it belonged to Adolph Staring, from whom it passed to Jacoba Henriette Magdalena de Mol van Otterloo. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum in 1950 as part of the bequest from de Mol van Otterloo.
Overview
Hieronymus van der Mij painted 'Portrait of Theodoor van Snakenburg, Jurist and Poet in Leiden' on copper in 1743. The artwork is a portrait of a man from Leiden, created by a Dutch artist who was active in the 18th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hieronymus van der Mij (1687–1761) was an 18th-century portrait painter from the Dutch Republic.
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