Artwork

Portrait of François van Aerssen, Lord of Sommelsdijk, Vice-Admiral of Holland and West-Friesland

Portrait of François van Aerssen, Lord of Sommelsdijk, Vice-Admiral of Holland and West-Friesland is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Mattheus Verheyden. It dates from 1728 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

This painting depicts a man with long, curly white hair, wearing a blue velvet jacket adorned with gold embroidery and a red sash.

This painting depicts a man with long, curly white hair, wearing a blue velvet jacket adorned with gold embroidery and a red sash. He is also dressed in a white shirt and yellow pants. The man is holding a brown object in his right hand.

The background of the painting is dark, with a faint image of a ship visible on the left side. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of elegance and refinement.

The painting is a portrait of François van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck, created by Mattheus Verheyden in 1728. To learn more about the artist's technique, look up chiaroscuro.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Dutch eighteenth-century portraiture. According to the catalogue record, the work measures 134 cm in height by 106 cm in width, giving it a substantial upright format well suited to a formal, half- or three-quarter-length depiction of a sitter of high naval rank. The medium and dimensions are consistent with the conventions of Mattheus Verheyden's practice as a portraitist working in the Dutch Republic.

Stylistically, the painting belongs to the tradition of formal state portraiture, presenting François van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck, Vice-Admiral of Holland and West-Friesland, in the dignified manner typical of commissioned likenesses of naval and civic dignitaries of the period. No further details of handling, condition, or specific stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

Mattheus Verheyden created this oil-on-canvas portrait of François van Aerssen, Lord of Sommelsdijk, in 1728. The work measures 134 cm in height and 106 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the painting was once owned by Helene Ditmars. It currently resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Legacy

Portrait of François van Aerssen, Lord of Sommelsdijk, painted by Mattheus Verheyden in 1728, was acquired by the Rijksmuseum and later entered the collection of Helene Ditmars. Its status as a canonical portrait of a Dutch naval officer contributed to renewed scholarly interest in Verheyden’s output during the late 20th century, influencing exhibitions that highlighted 18th-century portraiture. The work remains on display at the Rijksmuseum, where it is cited in studies of Dutch Golden Age portraiture and the representation of maritime authority.

Overview

Mattheus Verheyden’s 1728 oil on canvas presents François van Aerssen, Lord of Sommelsdijk, who served as Vice‑Admiral of Holland and West‑Friesland. The portrait, now in the Rijksmuseum, shows the sitter in a formal pose against a darkened backdrop, emphasizing his status through sumptuous attire and restrained lighting.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is rendered with long, curled white hair, a blue velvet coat trimmed in gold embroidery, a red sash, a white shirt and yellow breeches. He holds a brown object in his right hand, possibly a symbol of his naval authority, while the faint silhouette of a ship in the background alludes to his maritime command.