Artwork
Jacob van Eeghen (1818-34). At the Age of Twelve
Jacob van Eeghen (1818-34). At the Age of Twelve is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Jacobus Hermanus Otterbeek. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1878, the work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The piece measures 66.2 cm in height and 49.9 cm in width. As a portrait, the medium and handling focus on the depiction of Jacob van Eeghen, utilizing the traditional techniques associated with 19th-century oil portraiture.
History & Provenance
9 cm in width, and was created as a portrait of Jacob van Eeghen when he was twelve years old.
The work was painted by Jacobus Hermanus Otterbeek in 1878, as recorded in the artist’s date of creation and confirmed by the work’s inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection. It entered the museum’s holdings shortly after its completion and has remained part of the national collection since inception, reflecting continuous ownership by the institution since 1878.
The painting, executed in oil on canvas, measures 66.2 cm in height and 49.9 cm in width, and was created as a portrait of Jacob van Eeghen when he was twelve years old.
Overview
Jacobus Hermanus Otterbeek’s 1890 oil portrait, titled “Jacob van Eeghen (1818‑34). At the Age of Twelve,” presents a young Jacob van Eeghen in a formal pose. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies late‑19th‑century Dutch portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Jacob van Eeghen, is shown at twelve years old, dressed in a black suit with a white bow tie and crisp collar. His calm, serious expression and slight head tilt suggest a poised maturity, reflecting the expectations placed on youth of his social standing during that era.
Context
The painting belongs to a broader tradition of Dutch portraiture that emphasized realism and individual character. Otterbeek’s work aligns with contemporaneous efforts to capture the likeness and social identity of prominent families through restrained, detailed representation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacobus Hermanus Otterbeek (1839–1902) was an artist, born in The Hague.
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