Artwork
Portrait of Reinoud III of Brederode
Portrait of Reinoud III of Brederode is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jan van Scorel. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work likely commemorates his political and military role in the Low Countries during the reign of Charles V.
The sitter is Reinoud III of Brederode (c. 1492–1556), a Dutch nobleman and military commander who served as stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht. In the portrait, he is shown in three-quarter view against a neutral ground, wearing the black garments and white ruff typical of mid-sixteenth-century Netherlandish court attire, which signals his high social rank and status.
The work likely commemorates his political and military role in the Low Countries during the reign of Charles V. The sober, dignified presentation emphasizes lineage and authority rather than personal idiosyncrasy, aligning with conventions for noble portraiture of the period.
Technique & Style
Created in 1545 by Jan van Scorel, the Portrait of Reinoud III of Brederode is executed in oil paint on an oak panel support. The work measures 77.2 cm in height and 67 cm in width. As a portrait genre piece, it exemplifies the formal characteristics of mid-16th-century Dutch portraiture. The painting is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Utrecht, specifically located in hall 0.6.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Reinoud III of Brederode was painted by Jan van Scorel in 1545 in Utrecht. It was created as an oil painting on oak panel and depicts the nobleman Reinoud III van Brederode. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display in hall 0.6.
The painting was completed during the mid-sixteenth century and has been part of the museum's holdings since its acquisition.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is displayed in hall 0.6. It is catalogued as an oil-on-oak panel portrait of Reinoud III van Brederode, painted by Jan van Scorel in 1545. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond its placement in the Rijksmuseum's permanent collection is documented.
Overview
Jan van Scorel’s oil portrait, executed in 1545, presents Reinoud III van Brederode. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies mid‑sixteenth‑century Dutch portraiture, focusing on a single figure rendered with careful attention to texture and attire.
Context
The painting reflects the influence of Italian Renaissance portrait conventions that van Scorel encountered during his travels, merged with Northern European attention to detail. It illustrates the period’s emphasis on displaying rank through dress and accessories, a common practice among the Dutch aristocracy of the time.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Scorel was a Dutch painter, who played a leading role in introducing aspects of Italian Renaissance painting into Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting.
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