Artwork

Portrait of Nicolaas Willem op den Hooff, Physician and Translator in Amsterdam

Portrait of Nicolaas Willem op den Hooff, Physician and Translator 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

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting executed on a copper support, a technique documented for this portrait. The canvas-like surface shows handling marks consistent with its age, and the composition reflects 18th-century Dutch portrait conventions with restrained brushwork and precise detail. The painting measures 11 centimeters in height and 9.5 centimeters in width, as recorded in the museum's catalog.

History & Provenance

It remained in the museum's custody from the date of acquisition and was later documented in the institution's records as part of its permanent holdings.

The painting Portrait of Nicolaas Willem op den Hooff was created in 1750 by Jan Maurits Quinkhard on copper and entered the Rijksmuseum collection shortly after its creation. It remained in the museum's custody from the date of acquisition and was later documented in the institution's records as part of its permanent holdings. The work was originally commissioned to depict the Amsterdam physician and translator Nicolaas Willem op den Hooff, reflecting his status in 18th-century Dutch society.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, as recorded in both the internal catalog entry and the Wikidata record. According to the Wikidata entry, the painting belongs to the Rijksmuseum collection and is located there. The work is catalogued on Wikidata as a painting by Jan Maurits Quinkhard, dated 1750, executed in oil on copper.

No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.

Overview

Created circa 1750 by the Dutch artist Jan Maurits Quinkhard, this portrait presents the Amsterdam physician and translator Nicolaas Willem op den Hooff. Executed on a copper plate, the work benefits from the medium’s smooth surface, allowing fine detailing and a lasting finish. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter appears in a dark interior, his curly hair and neatly buttoned brown coat suggesting the modest elegance of a learned professional. He clasps his hands before him, a pose that conveys both composure and intellectual poise, reflecting his dual roles in medicine and translation.

Context

Painted during the Rococo period in the Netherlands, the work reflects the era’s preference for intimate, decorative portraiture that balanced elegance with a restrained naturalism. Quinkhard, known for both paintings and print designs, applied his skill in rendering fine textures, a hallmark of his broader oeuvre.