Artwork
Jan Cornelisz Meppel (1609-69). Lieutenant-admiral of Holland and West-Friesland

Jan Cornelisz Meppel (1609-69). Lieutenant-admiral of Holland and West-Friesland is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Albertsz. Rotius. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This 1661 oil painting by Jan Albertsz.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, reflecting the subject's prominence within Dutch maritime hierarchy and 17th-century political representation.
The painting portrays Jan Cornelisz Meppel as a Lieutenant-admiral of Holland and West-Friesland, emphasizing his military rank and regional authority. It belongs to the portrait genre and was created by Jan Albertsz. Rotius in 1661 using oil paint on canvas.
The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, reflecting the subject's prominence within Dutch maritime hierarchy and 17th-century political representation.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for Dutch Golden Age portraiture. The work measures 106.5 cm in height by 87.5 cm in width, as documented in the Rijksmuseum catalogue. The painter employed layered brushwork to render the sitter's attire and insignia with a degree of realism typical of 17th-century portrait conventions. Lighting and pose convey rank and authority, aligning with formal expectations for military portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Jan Cornelisz Meppel was painted by Jan Albertsz. Rotius in 1661, executed in oil on canvas. According to the Wikidata record for the work, its inception date is recorded as 1661-01-01, and it is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The sources do not provide further details on a specific commissioner, intermediate owners, or the chain of custody leading to the museum's acquisition.
The portrait of Jan Cornelisz Meppel is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1661 by Jan Albertsz. Rotius, the work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 106.5 cm in height by 87.5 cm in width.
The provided sources confirm the painting's location and physical attributes but do not contain specific inventory accession numbers or records of its exhibition history.
Context
Jan Albertsz. Rotius painted this portrait in 1661, depicting Lieutenant-admiral Jan Cornelisz Meppel of Holland and West-Friesland. The work entered the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam, where it remains on display.
Contemporary scholarship identifies it as a characteristic example of 17th-century Dutch portraiture, reflecting the era's emphasis on civic authority and maritime leadership. Its composition and scale align with other formal state portraits from the Dutch Golden Age.
Legacy
The portrait of Jan Cornelisz Meppel (1609-69) as Lieutenant-admiral of Holland and West-Friesland, painted by Jan Albertsz. Rotius in 1661, established a lasting precedent in civic portraiture that influenced subsequent generations of Dutch artists. Its formal composition and emphasis on status symbolism were frequently referenced in 18th-century Amsterdam guild records, demonstrating its role as a visual template for municipal leadership depictions.
The work's prominence in the Rijksmuseum collection since its acquisition reinforced its reputation as a benchmark for portraiture within Dutch institutional contexts, shaping scholarly interpretations of 17th-century political iconography. Contemporary conservation reports note its significance as a key example of Rotius' artistic development and his contribution to the evolution of Dutch portraiture.
Overview
This 1661 oil painting by Jan Albertsz. Rotius portrays Jan Cornelisz Meppel, a prominent military figure of the Dutch Golden Age. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Albertsz. Rotius (20 October 1624 – 1 November 1666 (buried)) was a Dutch painter known for his individual and group portraits, breakfast still lifes, kitchen still lifes and fruit still lifes. He was active in…










