Artwork

Portrait of Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, Poet and Historian in Amsterdam, New Amsterdam and Batavia

Portrait of Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, Poet and Historian in Amsterdam, New Amsterdam and Batavia 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

Technique & Style

The combination of oil medium and metal support distinguishes the object's physical construction from more common canvas or panel paintings of the era.

Executed in 1750 by Jan Maurits Quinkhard, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a copper support. The choice of copper as a grounding material was a specific technical decision that allowed for a smooth, hard surface, often resulting in a luminous finish and fine detail characteristic of small-scale works from this period. The painting is diminutive in scale, measuring 11 cm in height and 9.5 cm in width.

As a portrait, the work focuses on the likeness of the subject, Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, rendered within these compact dimensions. The combination of oil medium and metal support distinguishes the object's physical construction from more common canvas or panel paintings of the era.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Jacob Jacobsz Steendam was created in 1750 by the artist Jan Maurits Quinkhard. Executed as an oil painting on a copper support, the work measures 11 cm in height and 9.5 cm in width. Current records identify the Rijksmuseum as the holding institution for this small-scale portrait, which depicts the poet and historian known for his connections to Amsterdam, New Amsterdam, and Batavia.

The painting Portrait of Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, Poet and Historian in Amsterdam, New Amsterdam and Batavia is part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam. It was created in 1750 by Jan Maurits Quinkhard on copper and measures 11 cm in height by 9.5 cm in width. The work has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum, including presentations of Dutch portraiture from the 18th century.

The artwork is cataloged with the accession number SK-A-1234 in the museum's records.

Context

Jan Maurits Quinkhard painted Portrait of Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, Poet and Historian in Amsterdam, New Amsterdam and Batavia in 1750, depicting the Dutch colonial administrator and literary figure across his roles in the Netherlands, the New World, and Batavia.

The work was created on copper and measures 11 centimeters in height by 9.5 centimeters in width, reflecting a small-scale portrait format typical of 18th-century Dutch painting.

Overview

Around 1750 Jan Maurits Quinkhard, a Dutch painter of the eighteenth century, produced an oval portrait on copper of Jacob Jacobsz Steendam. The work belongs to the Rococo period and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It presents the sitter in a restrained pose against a dark, unadorned backdrop, emphasizing his facial features.

Subject & Meaning

Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, shown with curly reddish hair and a neatly trimmed beard, was known for his poetry and historical writings concerning Amsterdam, the former New Amsterdam, and Batavia. The portrait’s sober attire, a black coat, white high‑collared shirt, and a modest chain with a pendant, suggests his scholarly status and the seriousness of his literary pursuits.