Artwork
Portrait of Maurits (1567-1625), Prince of Orange
Portrait of Maurits (1567-1625), Prince of Orange is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Lyon. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The small scale and copper support suggest an intimate, collector’s piece rather than a grand state portrait.
The work depicts Maurits van Nassau (1567–1625), known as Maurice, Prince of Orange, who served as stadtholder of the Dutch Republic and military leader during the Eighty Years’ War against Spain. Painted in 1612 by Jacob Lyon on copper, the portrait emphasizes the sitter’s status and authority through restrained presentation and refined technique appropriate to the medium.
The small scale and copper support suggest an intimate, collector’s piece rather than a grand state portrait. As a likeness of a key figure in the Dutch Revolt, the painting reflects the political and cultural identity of the young republic, where portraiture of military and civic leaders became a means of asserting legitimacy and continuity.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1612 by Jacob Lyon, this portrait of Maurice of Nassau is an oil painting on a copper support. The work is characterized by its diminutive scale, measuring 11.5 cm in height and 8.5 cm in width. The use of copper as a ground was a technique often employed for small-scale, detailed portraits during this period, allowing for a smooth surface that facilitated fine brushwork.
As a classified painting within the portrait genre, the piece demonstrates the artist's handling of oil mediums on a rigid, non-absorbent metal plate rather than traditional canvas or wood panel.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted in 1612 by Jacob Lyon, as indicated by the work’s inclusion date in the Rijksmuseum’s holdings.
It entered the museum through Arnoldus Andries des Tombe, who later bequeathed it to the Rijksmuseum. Des Tombe’s ownership is documented in the museum’s collection record, which also lists the copper support and the prince’s depiction as primary identifiers.
The Portrait of Maurits (1567–1625), Prince of Orange, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work, painted by Jacob Lyon in 1612 on copper, is part of the museum's inventory, though a specific accession number is not provided in the available records. Historically, the painting was owned by Arnoldus Andries des Tombe before entering the public collection.
No specific exhibition history is detailed in the provided sources, limiting the record to its current institutional location and former private ownership.
Overview
Jacob Lyon’s 1612 portrait presents Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, rendered on a modestly sized copper plate. The composition centers the sitter with a solemn gaze turned toward his right shoulder, set against a deep, unadorned background that emphasizes his figure. The work resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is displayed among other Dutch Golden Age pieces.
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