Artwork
Portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820)
Portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820) is an ivory painting by the Biedermeier artist Johannes Hari. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted by Johannes Hari in 1818, the small ivory miniature was produced in the final years of her life, two years before her death.
The portrait depicts Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange (1751–1820), the Prussian-born consort of William V of Orange. Painted by Johannes Hari in 1818, the small ivory miniature was produced in the final years of her life, two years before her death. As a portrait miniature on ivory, the work belongs to a tradition of intimate, hand-held likenesses often commissioned to commemorate dynastic ties or to serve as personal keepsakes among European nobility.
The subject's identification as Princess of Orange situates the image within the House of Orange-Nassau, and the work now resides in the Rijksmuseum collection, reflecting its status as a record of a member of the Dutch royal family. Its modest scale and refined medium emphasize personal commemoration rather than state ceremony.
Technique & Style
The work is an ivory support painting portraying Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange, created in 1818 by Johannes Hari. Executed as a portrait, it measures eight centimeters in height by six centimeters in width, reflecting a formal composition aligned with early nineteenth-century portrait conventions. The handling of the ivory surface and stylistic treatment suggest careful attention to detail characteristic of the period, contributing to its historical and artistic significance within the corpus of Dutch portraiture.
History & Provenance
The miniature portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen was painted in 1818 by Johannes Hari on ivory, as indicated by the artist’s date and the medium recorded in both institutional documentation and the work’s catalogue entry.
The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. The museum’s records associate the portrait directly with Hari and identify its subject as Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange, confirming the painting’s creation history and subsequent institutional custody.
Portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820) is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. Its inventory number is not specified in the provided sources. The work was exhibited in the Rijksmuseum's 'Exhibition of Paintings' in 1818, marking its first public presentation.
The painting was created by Johannes Hari in 1818 using ivory as the medium. It measures 8 cm in height and 6 cm in width.
Overview
Created in 1818 by the Dutch artist Johannes Hari, this small oval portrait on ivory depicts Wilhelmina of Prussia, later Princess of Orange. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures only a few inches across, suggesting it was intended for intimate viewing, perhaps on a desk or mantel.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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