Artwork
Mr. Willem Boreel (1744-1796), magistrate of Amsterdam
Mr. Willem Boreel (1744-1796), magistrate of Amsterdam is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Perronneau. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1775, this small oval portrait depicts Willem Boreel (1744–1796), a magistrate of Amsterdam.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction focuses solely on the figure of Boreel without additional narrative elements or symbolic attributes mentioned in the available records.
The work is a portrait depicting Willem Boreel, who lived from 1744 to 1796 and served as a magistrate of Amsterdam. Created by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau in 1775, the piece identifies Boreel as its main subject, presenting him in the capacity of a civic official. As a portrait executed in ivory, the artwork functions as a representation of the individual's status and identity within the Amsterdam magistracy during the late 18th century.
The depiction focuses solely on the figure of Boreel without additional narrative elements or symbolic attributes mentioned in the available records.
Technique & Style
The portrait is painted in oil on a thin ivory support, a format associated with intimate, finely detailed likenesses. Perronneau’s handling combines smooth, blended modeling of the face with delicate, linear hatching in the costume and accessories, emphasizing the sitter’s social status through meticulous detail. The overall finish is crisp, with subtle glazes enriching the flesh tones and a restrained palette that privileges understated elegance over dramatic contrast.
Condition appears stable, with no significant losses or abrasions reported in the primary sources.
History & Provenance
Jean-Baptiste Perronneau created the ivory portrait of Willem Boreel in 1775. The work depicts the Amsterdam magistrate and measures 5.7 cm in height by 4.7 cm in width. Prior to its acquisition by the Rijksmuseum, the painting was owned by Nathan Katz, Adolph Staring, and Jacoba Henriette Magdalena de Mol van Otterloo.
The specific commission details and the exact sequence of the ownership transfer between these individuals are not detailed in the available records.
The portrait of Willem Boreel is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Previous owners of the work include Nathan Katz, Adolph Staring, and Jacoba Henriette Magdalena de Mol van Otterloo. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece, nor do they document any exhibitions in which the artwork has been displayed.
Overview
Created in 1775, this small oval portrait depicts Willem Boreel (1744–1796), a magistrate of Amsterdam. Executed on a sheet of ivory, the work measures only a few inches across and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. Its delicate rendering and subdued palette reflect the refined sensibility of the late Rococo period.
Context
During the mid‑1700s, Amsterdam’s magistrates often commissioned portraits to assert their authority and social standing. Perronneau’s use of ivory aligns with contemporary trends among elite patrons who sought luxurious, portable works that could be displayed in private chambers.
Legacy
Although less renowned than his pastel oeuvre, this ivory portrait demonstrates Perronneau’s versatility and contributes to the broader understanding of Rococo portraiture’s material experimentation. It remains a rare example of ivory painting in Dutch civic portraiture.
Own this work as a print
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.
- Portret van een man
Sir William Hood
Portret van een man
Portrait of a man
Archibald McCall
Herman Wolters (1682-1756). husband of the painter
Portrait of Roedolph van Olden (1752-1828)
Portrait of Johannes Wesenhagen (1743-1803)
Self-Portrait
Willem IV (1711-51), prins van Oranje Nassau
Valtaneuvos Clas Ekeblad
William Udall