Artwork

Portrait of Hendrik van der Zande, Jurist and Dramatic Poet in Amsterdam

Portrait of Hendrik van der Zande, Jurist and Dramatic Poet in Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan Maurits Quinkhard. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The small copper support underscores the intimate scale typical of private portraiture of this period, emphasizing the individual rather than public display.

The sitter is Hendrik van der Zande, identified in the painting’s title as a jurist and dramatic poet active in Amsterdam during the mid-eighteenth century. The small copper support underscores the intimate scale typical of private portraiture of this period, emphasizing the individual rather than public display. The work’s focus on a learned professional who also cultivated literature aligns with contemporary Dutch portrait conventions that valorized civic and literary accomplishment, suggesting a self-fashioning of status through intellectual identity.

Technique & Style

Jan Maurits Quinkhard executed the Portrait of Hendrik van der Zande in 1750 using oil paint applied to a copper support. This small-scale panel measures 11.2 cm in height and 9.3 cm in width, a format characteristic of intimate portraiture on metal. The use of copper as a ground suggests a desire for a smooth, durable surface that enhances the fine detail and luminosity typical of Quinkhard's portraiture style during the mid-18th century.

Overview

Portrait of Hendrik van der Zande, Jurist and Dramatic Poet in Amsterdam is an 18th-century copper painting created by Dutch artist Jan Maurits Quinkhard around 1750, classified under the Rococo movement.

History & Provenance

The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, though specific details of its acquisition or previous ownership are not provided in the available information.

Context

Created within the Rococo era, the portrait reflects the stylistic tendencies of the time, emphasizing elegance and subtle detail, while the subject's dual role as jurist and poet situates him within Amsterdam's intellectual and artistic circles of the 18th century.