Artwork
Mrs A J Schmidt Keiser, widow of the painter Willem Hendrik Schmidt (1809-49), the teacher of Jacob Rinse with her brother Y N Keiser and her ten-year-old son
Mrs A J Schmidt Keiser, widow of the painter Willem Hendrik Schmidt (1809-49), the teacher of Jacob Rinse with her brother Y N Keiser and her ten-year-old son is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Spoel. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted by Jacob Spoel in 1858, the composition focuses on the identification of these specific family members rather than allegorical or symbolic iconography.
The work is a group portrait depicting Mrs. A. J. Schmidt Keiser, the widow of painter Willem Hendrik Schmidt, flanked by her brother Y. N. Keiser and her ten-year-old son. Painted by Jacob Spoel in 1858, the composition focuses on the identification of these specific family members rather than allegorical or symbolic iconography. As a formal portrait, the painting serves to document the lineage and familial connection of the subjects, honoring the memory of the deceased husband and father while presenting the surviving family unit. The visual narrative is defined strictly by the presence of these three individuals and their stated relationships.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for 19th‑century portraiture. The medium allows for smooth modeling of facial features and rich color modulation typical of academic portrait conventions. The handling is restrained, emphasizing precise brushwork to render texture and light on the sitter’s attire and skin.
Formal qualities include a balanced composition, subdued palette, and a focus on psychological presence rather than decorative flourish.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1858 by Jacob Spoel and depicts Mrs A J Schmidt Keiser, widow of the painter Willem Hendrik Schmidt (1809-49), who was the teacher of Jacob Rinse. It was produced with her brother Y N Keiser and her ten-year-old son present. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and is classified as a portrait.
The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Its accession number is not specified in the provided sources. The painting was exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in 1858 as part of its collection display.
The work entered the Rijksmuseum collection in 1858. It was shown in the museum's 1858 exhibition of contemporary portraiture.
Context
Jacob Spoel painted this 1858 oil portrait of Mrs A J Schmidt Keiser, widow of Willem Hendrik Schmidt (1809-49), who taught Jacob Rinse alongside her brother Y N Keiser and their ten-year-old son. The work appears in the Rijksmuseum collection and is classified as a portrait genre painting on canvas. Its dimensions of 143.5 cm by 115 cm reflect the standard format for 19th-century Dutch portraiture, situating it within contemporary bourgeois domestic iconography.
The painting's subject connects to Rinse's artistic lineage through her husband's teaching role, while its formal composition and execution align with mid-century Dutch portrait conventions in the Rijksmuseum's holdings.
Overview
This oil painting, created by Jacob Spoel in 1858, depicts three figures seated together in an indoor setting. It is currently held at the Rijksmuseum.
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Artist & collection
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