Artwork
Portrait of Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent (1626-72), vice-admiral

Portrait of Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent (1626-72), vice-admiral is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan de Baen. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This oil painting, created in 1660, is a portrait of Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent, a Dutch vice-admiral.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent (1626–72), a Dutch vice-admiral who served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the mid-17th century.
The portrait depicts Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent (1626–72), a Dutch vice-admiral who served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the mid-17th century. Van Ghent is shown in a commanding presence, aligning with his military rank and public role. The work captures his status through formal attire and dignified bearing, emphasizing his leadership in the Dutch Republic’s naval forces during a period of intense maritime conflict.
The painting’s iconography underscores van Ghent’s authority and service. His attire, likely including a sash or similar emblem of office, signals his vice-admiralty and noble title, reinforcing his identity within the social and military hierarchies of the Dutch Golden Age.
Technique & Style
Jan de Baen executed this portrait of Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work, dated to 1660, is classified as a portrait within the genre of painting. Physically, the canvas measures 111 cm in height and 92.5 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
Jan de Baen executed this oil-on-canvas portrait of Vice-Admiral Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent in 1660. While some records indicate a broader inception period potentially extending to 1684, the specific date of 1660 is established for the work's creation. The painting measures 111 cm in height and 92.5 cm in width.
It currently resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is preserved as a significant example of Dutch portraiture from the seventeenth century.
The Portrait of Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The painting is executed on canvas using oil paint and measures 111 cm in height by 92.5 cm in width. While the work is attributed to Jan de Baen, the museum's records indicate an inception date of 1684, distinct from the 1660 date sometimes associated with the sitter's life or earlier attributions.
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records, nor is there documentation of a specific exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
This oil painting, created in 1660, is a portrait of Willem Joseph Baron van Ghent, a Dutch vice-admiral. The work is attributed to Jan de Baen, a Dutch portrait painter active during the Dutch Golden Age.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan de Baen (20 February 1633 – 1702) was a Dutch portrait painter who lived during the Dutch Golden Age.















