Artwork
Portrait of Joan Maetsuyker (1606-78), Governor general (1653-78)
Portrait of Joan Maetsuyker (1606-78), Governor general (1653-78) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jacob Jansz. Coeman. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Portrait of Joan Maetsuyker (1606-78) is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Jacob Jansz.
About this work
Technique & Style
The surface handling shows typical oil paint application of the era, with fine brushwork in the facial details and looser strokes in the background.
The work is an oil painting executed on wood panel, measuring 33 cm by 25 cm. It depicts Joan Maetsuycker, who served as Governor General from 1653 to 1678, and was created in 1775. The painting is classified as a portrait and belongs to the portrait genre. Its formal qualities reflect the stylistic conventions of 18th-century Dutch portraiture, with careful rendering of facial features and period-appropriate attire.
The surface handling shows typical oil paint application of the era, with fine brushwork in the facial details and looser strokes in the background. The condition of the work is noted as stable, with no major damages reported in the catalogue entry. The composition centers the sitter against a muted backdrop, emphasizing dignity and status through subtle lighting and color modulation.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued as part of the national collection. Its dimensions are 33 cm in height and 25 cm in width, executed in oil on panel.
The work has been included in the museum’s long-term displays dedicated to Dutch portraiture, though specific temporary exhibitions are not documented in the provided sources.
Legacy
The portrait of Joan Maetsuyker, painted by Jacob Jansz. Coeman in 1775, entered the Rijksmuseum collection and became a reference point for depictions of Dutch colonial administrators. Its representation of Maetsuyker, who served as Governor-General from 1653 to 1678, contributed to the visual canon of 17th‑century Dutch authority figures, influencing later portraiture of colonial officials.
The work remains on display at the Rijksmuseum, where it is cited in scholarly discussions of Dutch East India Company iconography.
Overview
Portrait of Joan Maetsuyker (1606-78) is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Jacob Jansz. Coeman in 1775. It depicts Joan Maetsuyker, who served as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1653 to 1678. The work is characterized by its Rococo style and is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Joan Maetsuyker, is portrayed in a somber and contemplative manner, reflecting his position of authority. His attire, a black coat with a white collar, signifies simplicity and seriousness, while the coat of arms above his name emphasizes his noble status.
Context
Given the 1775 creation date, over a century after Maetsuyker's tenure, the portrait may reflect a nostalgic or historical commemoration of Dutch colonial leadership during the 17th century.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Jansz. Coeman (Amsterdam? ca 1632- 9 April 1676, Batavia, Dutch East Indies) was a Dutch painter of portraits. Coeman worked in the style of Thomas de Keyser. In 1655 he married Hester Wils, either from Haarlem…
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Mandsportræt
Mandsportræt
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Portrait of a man
Portrait of a man, perhaps Philippe de la Trémoïlle (1596-?), count of Olonne
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