Artwork

Cornelia Teding van Berkhout (1614-80). Wife of Maerten Harpertsz Tromp

Cornelia Teding van Berkhout (1614-80). Wife of Maerten Harpertsz Tromp is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Lievens. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Executed around 1650, this oil portrait depicts Cornelia Teding van Berkhout, the spouse of the Dutch admiral Maerten Harpertsz Tromp.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts Cornelia Teding van Berkhout, the wife of the Dutch naval officer Maerten Harpertsz Tromp.

The portrait depicts Cornelia Teding van Berkhout, the wife of the Dutch naval officer Maerten Harpertsz Tromp. Executed by Jan Lievens in 1650, the painting is a full-length representation of the sitter, emphasizing her social status and personal identity within the Dutch Republic’s elite circles.

The work’s iconography centers on the figure of Cornelia, presented with a reserved yet dignified demeanor, reflecting the portrait conventions of mid-seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. The emphasis on individual identity and social standing aligns with the genre’s broader cultural significance in the Dutch Golden Age, where portraiture served as a means of asserting personal and familial prestige.

History & Provenance

Jan Lievens executed this oil-on-canvas portrait of Cornelia Teding van Berkhout in 1650. The work depicts the wife of Maerten Harpertsz Tromp and measures 134 cm by 101 cm. The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located.

Overview

Executed around 1650, this oil portrait depicts Cornelia Teding van Berkhout, the spouse of the Dutch admiral Maerten Harpertsz Tromp. Painted by Jan Lievens, a contemporary of Rembrandt, the work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s focus on realistic, individualized portraiture. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam.

Technique & Style

Lievens employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using deep shadows behind the figure to isolate her face and illuminate the pearls and fur. The careful rendering of textures, silk, fur, and metal, demonstrates his skill in capturing material qualities, a hallmark of Dutch portraiture of the era.

Jacoba van Orliens (1643-91). Wife of Jacob de Witte van Haamstede, Johannes Mytens

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jan Lievens

Jan Lievens (24 October 1607 – 4 June 1674) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who was associated with his close contemporary Rembrandt, a year older, in the early parts of their careers.