Artwork
Portrait of Gerrit van der Pot, Lord of Groeneveld, Art Collector in Rotterdam
Portrait of Gerrit van der Pot, Lord of Groeneveld, Art Collector in Rotterdam is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Johann Baptist Scheffer. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1800, this oil portrait presents Gerrit van der Pot, lord of Groeneveld and noted art patron from Rotterdam.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Gerrit van der Pot, Lord of Groeneveld, identified as an art collector in Rotterdam. He is portrayed wearing formal attire that underscores his aristocratic status and engagement with the arts. The composition emphasizes his role as a patron, linking personal identity with cultural influence in the late 18th‑century Dutch Republic.
Technique & Style
Stylistic features include restrained chiaroscuro and careful attention to the textures of fabric and flesh, typical of the period’s academic approach.
Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait measures 108 cm in height and 83.5 cm in width. The handling is consistent with late eighteenth-century portrait conventions, employing smooth, blended transitions in the modeling of the sitter’s face and costume to convey a polished finish. The composition centers on the figure against a neutral background, emphasizing clarity and directness.
Stylistic features include restrained chiaroscuro and careful attention to the textures of fabric and flesh, typical of the period’s academic approach.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Gerrit van der Pot, Lord of Groeneveld, was created by Johann Baptist Scheffer in 1800. Executed in oil on canvas, the work depicts the Rotterdam art collector, who is also associated with The Night School. The painting measures 108 cm in height and 83.5 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The work is held by the Rijksmuseum, where it is catalogued under accession number SK-A-2521. The painting, an oil on canvas portrait dated 1800, measures 108 cm in height by 83.5 cm in width. It has been exhibited in the museum's historical galleries since its acquisition, including in the exhibition "Dutch Masters of the 19th Century" in 2005.
Overview
Created in 1800, this oil portrait presents Gerrit van der Pot, lord of Groeneveld and noted art patron from Rotterdam. The composition pairs the sitter with an allegorical figure that symbolizes a night school, underscoring van der Pot’s role as a collector and supporter of the arts. The work resides in the Rijksmuseum’s holdings.
Context
Scheffer’s oeuvre often featured intellectuals and patrons, reflecting the Enlightenment’s emphasis on learning and cultural patronage. The inclusion of an allegorical night‑school figure aligns with contemporary practices of embedding symbolic references to the sitter’s virtues and interests within portraiture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann or Johan Bernard Scheffer (also Jean Baptist Scheffer; 1764 – 30 June 1809) was a German-born painter and etcher active in the Netherlands and the father of the painter Ary Scheffer.
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