Artwork
Arent van der Waeyen
Arent van der Waeyen is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Perronneau. It dates from 1763 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Arent van der Waeyen, a Dutch subject represented in a three-quarter view.
The portrait depicts Arent van der Waeyen, a Dutch subject represented in a three-quarter view. The painting emphasizes the individual’s dignified presence through restrained attire and poised expression, aligning with the conventions of eighteenth-century European portraiture. The work conveys status and character typical of commissioned portraits of the period, focusing on the sitter’s identity rather than allegorical or symbolic elements.
Technique & Style
The portrait by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for eighteenth-century European portraiture. The handling is characterized by smooth, blended brushwork with delicate transitions in tonal values, particularly evident in the softly modeled facial features and the restrained treatment of the sitter’s cravat and coat. Stylistically, the work adheres to the refined French rococo tradition, marked by understated elegance and a muted palette that emphasizes the sitter’s dignified presence rather than dramatic contrast.
The composition centers on a three-quarter view, with the subject’s gaze directed slightly away from the viewer, contributing to an air of quiet introspection.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau in 1763, executed on canvas as a portrait of Arend van der Waeyen. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. The canvas measures 56.0 cm in height by 49.0 cm in width.
The sources do not provide information on the original commission, the chain of ownership prior to the Rijksmuseum, or the circumstances of its acquisition by the museum.
The portrait of Arend van der Waeyen by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is recorded under the accession details associated with its presence in the museum's holdings. Executed in 1763 on canvas, the work measures 56.0 cm in height and 49.0 cm in width. It has been exhibited as part of the museum's portrait genre displays, reflecting its classification within the institution's collection.
Overview
Created in 1763, this portrait depicts Arent van der Waeyen, an elderly gentleman rendered in profile. Executed in pastel on canvas, the work belongs to the Rococo period and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. The composition isolates the sitter against a dark, uniform backdrop, directing attention to his facial features and attire.
Context
In the mid‑18th century, pastel became a favored medium for portraiture in France and the Netherlands, valued for its immediacy and luminous quality. Perronneau’s approach aligns with contemporary trends that emphasized elegance and refined surface treatment, positioning the piece within broader Rococo artistic currents.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Perronneau (French pronunciation:; c. 1716 – 19 November 1783) was a French Rococo painter and draughtsman, best known for his portrait pastels.
- Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn (1692 -1749)
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