Artwork
David Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville (1770-1849), Painter and Writer
David Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville (1770-1849), Painter and Writer is an oil painting by Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this work, you might want to look up Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet.
This painting features a man sitting in a chair, wearing a dark coat and a black hat. He has white hair and is looking to his left. His hands are clasped together in front of him. The background is a warm, beige color.
The man's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it may be a portrait from the 19th century. The artist has used oil paint to create a detailed and realistic image.
If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this work, you might want to look up Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created by Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet circa 1840, during the lifetime of David Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville, as indicated by its monogram ‘J.L.C.’ and stylistic placement within the artist’s oeuvre. The work depicts Humbert de Superville seated, dressed in a brown coat and black cap, holding one arm over the chair back.
It entered the collection of Karel Jan Frederik Cornelis Kneppelhout van Sterkenburg, owner of Kasteel Sterkenburg near Driebergen. After his death, his widow, Susanna Elisabeth Kneppelhout van Sterkenburg-Drabbe, donated the painting to the Rijksmuseum in June 1888.
The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It entered the museum's holdings in June 1888 as a donation from Susanna Elisabeth Kneppelhout van Sterkenburg-Drabbe, the widow of Karel Jan Frederik Cornelis Kneppelhout van Sterkenburg, who previously owned the work at Kasteel Sterkenburg near Driebergen.
While the painting resides in the national collection, the provided records do not list specific inventory numbers or detail any public exhibitions in which the work has been displayed.
Legacy
David Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville earned lasting recognition through his contributions to art theory and education, influencing Dutch academic painting in the 19th century. His close friendship with Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet, who painted his portrait during the 1840s, linked him to artistic circles in Leiden and Amsterdam. The portrait, held in the Rijksmuseum since 1888, reflects his status as both a practitioner and theorist of art.
His legacy persists in scholarly discussions of Dutch Romantic-era intellectuals and institutional reforms at the Leidse tekenacademie, where he served as director alongside Cornet.
Overview
This 1844 oil painting is a portrait of David Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville, a painter and writer, created by Dutch artist Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet. The work is characteristic of the formal portrait genre prevalent during the period.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Humbert de Superville, is depicted in a contemplative pose, seated with clasped hands and gazing to his left, conveying a sense of introspection. His attire, including a dark coat and black hat, alongside his white hair, suggests an emphasis on dignity and age.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the portrait demonstrates Cornet's attention to detail and commitment to realism. The warm, beige background subtly complements the subject's dark, formal attire, balancing the composition.
Context
Created in 1844, the portrait reflects the ongoing tradition of formal portraiture in 19th-century Dutch art, with Cornet drawing on established conventions to honor his subject's dual role as painter and writer.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet (1815, in Leiden – 1882, in Leiden), also known by his initials as J.L.
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