Artwork
Portrait of Joost van Geel, Painter and Poet in Rotterdam

Portrait of Joost van Geel, Painter and Poet in Rotterdam 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 painting's condition remains stable, with original varnish layers preserved beneath contemporary conservation treatment.
Portrait of Joost van Geel, Painter and Poet in Rotterdam is an oil painting executed on copper support. The work measures 11 centimeters in height and 9.5 centimeters in width, reflecting its modest scale typical of 18th-century Dutch portraiture. Rendered circa 1750, the composition demonstrates formal restraint through its muted tonal palette and precise rendering of the subject's features, aligning with Quinkhard's adaptation of the self-portrait genre to depict contemporaries. The painting's condition remains stable, with original varnish layers preserved beneath contemporary conservation treatment.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created in 1750 by Jan Maurits Quinkhard, executed in oil on copper. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. It depicts Joost van Geel and is based on a self-portrait by the sitter.
The sources do not document a specific commissioner, prior owners, or intermediate ownership steps preceding the Rijksmuseum acquisition, nor do they record details of the painting's creation history beyond the 1750 inception date and its derivation from Van Geel's self-portrait.
The Portrait of Joost van Geel, Painter and Poet in Rotterdam is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This oil-on-copper painting, created by Jan Maurits Quinkhard in 1750, is part of the museum's permanent holdings. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers for the work, nor do they list any exhibition history.
Overview
Created circa 1750 by Jan Maurits Quinkhard, this copper portrait records the likeness of Joost van Geel, a noted painter and poet from Rotterdam. Executed in the Rococo style, the work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies mid‑18th‑century Dutch portraiture on a metal support.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Joost van Geel, is presented as a cultured figure, his attire and relaxed pose suggesting both artistic confidence and literary refinement. The calm, direct gaze and modest expression convey a dignified self‑presentation typical of professional men of his era.
Context
The work reflects the Rococo’s preference for elegance and intimacy, yet retains the Dutch tradition of sober realism. Portraits on copper were relatively uncommon, offering a durable, smooth ground that suited Quinkhard’s precise rendering of skin tones and fabric.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Maurits Quinkhard (28 January 1688 – 11 November 1772) was an 18th-century painter and print designer from the Dutch Republic.

















