Artwork

Portrait of Henriette Amalia van Anhalt-Dessau (1666-1726), wife of Hendrik Casimir II, ruler of Nassau-Dietz

Portrait of Henriette Amalia van Anhalt-Dessau (1666-1726), wife of Hendrik Casimir II, ruler of Nassau-Dietz is an unspecified painting by Marie Duchatel. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This oval portrait, executed in 1695, presents Henriette Amalia of Anhalt‑Dessau, the consort of Hendrik Casimir II, ruler of Nassau‑Dietz.

About this work

Technique & Style

2 cm) and the use of cardboard support align with the conventions of the period’s portrait miniatures, intended for private circulation among court circles.

Executed in 1689 on cardboard, the portrait is rendered in a fluid, miniature technique typical of late seventeenth-century Brussels practice. Handling is delicate, with fine brushwork used to articulate facial features and costume details, while broader, flatter areas stabilize the composition. The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones to convey the sitter’s poise and status.

The small scale (5.5 × 4.2 cm) and the use of cardboard support align with the conventions of the period’s portrait miniatures, intended for private circulation among court circles.

History & Provenance

Created in 1689, this miniature portrait of Henriette Amalia van Anhalt-Dessau was executed by the artist Marie Duchatel. The work was produced in Brussels and is characterized by its small scale, measuring 5.5 cm in height and 4.2 cm in width. The piece is painted on a cardboard support, a material choice noted in its classification.

While the specific commissioning details and the chain of ownership prior to its current location are not detailed in the available records, the work is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is catalogued as a miniature painted on cardboard in Brussels in 1689 by Marie Duchatel. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources.

No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Overview

This oval portrait, executed in 1695, presents Henriette Amalia of Anhalt‑Dessau, the consort of Hendrik Casimir II, ruler of Nassau‑Dietz. Rendered on a cardboard support, the work measures only a few centimeters across, emphasizing the intimate scale typical of miniature portraiture. The composition isolates the sitter against a dark, unadorned background, directing attention to her facial expression and attire.

Subject & Meaning

Henriette Amalia is shown with a pale complexion, her hair powdered and gathered in a modest knot, wearing a light‑blue gown with a ruffled collar and a coordinating sash. The restrained elegance of her dress and the subdued palette reflect the conventions of courtly portraiture in the late seventeenth century, intended to convey noble status, modesty, and refined taste.