Portrait of Pieter Hendrik van Gelder (1822-1883)

The work reflects contemporary ideals of domestic authority and civic responsibility associated with the sitter’s role in Dutch civic life.

The painting portrays Pieter Hendrik van Gelder, a Dutch merchant and community figure from the late nineteenth century. Rendered as a formal portrait in oil on canvas, it emphasizes his respectable status within bourgeois society through careful attention to clothing and composition. The work reflects contemporary ideals of domestic authority and civic responsibility associated with the sitter’s role in Dutch civic life.