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Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece

Master of Alkmaar

Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece, by Master of Alkmaar, oil
Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece, by Master of Alkmaar, oil

Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of Alkmaar. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1517, this oil on panel presents a group portrait of eight men set within a modest landscape.

About this work

Technique & Style

The surface exhibits careful handling typical of early 16th-century panel painting, with fine brushwork defining individual expressions and heraldic elements.

The work is an oil painting on panel, created circa 1517 by the Master of Alkmaar. It depicts eight male figures within a devotional composition, likely representing Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and his family alongside Saint James the Greater and the family crest. Executed in tempera and oil on a wooden support, the inner left wing of a triptych altarpiece, it measures 101 by 35.5 centimeters.

The formal composition emphasizes linear precision and symbolic iconography, with stylized facial features and intricate detailing characteristic of early Netherlandish portraiture.

The surface exhibits careful handling typical of early 16th-century panel painting, with fine brushwork defining individual expressions and heraldic elements. Stylistically, the piece reflects the Master of Alkmaar’s blend of manuscript illumination traditions and emerging Renaissance naturalism, particularly in the rendering of textiles and facial anatomy. The restrained palette and emphasis on hierarchical arrangement underscore its devotional function within a private devotional context.

History & Provenance

The altarpiece panel was commissioned circa 1517 for the private devotional use of the Van Soutelande family in Alkmaar, Netherlands. It remained in the family's possession until the early nineteenth century, after which it entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it has been on permanent display since 1885. The work was created by the Master of Alkmaar, an anonymous painter active in the northern Netherlands during the early sixteenth century, and was executed in oil on a wooden panel.

Its dimensions are 101 cm in height and 35.5 cm in width, matching the measurements recorded in the museum's catalogue.

The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Its accession number is not provided in the sources. The panel was painted in 1517 and was created as the inner left wing of an altarpiece.

It has been exhibited in the Rijksmuseum's galleries, though specific exhibition titles or dates are not documented in the sources.

Overview

Created in 1517, this oil on panel presents a group portrait of eight men set within a modest landscape. The composition includes Saint James the Greater and a family coat of arms, linking the figures to a specific lineage. The work belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition and is linked to the Master of Alkmaar, an early‑sixteenth‑century Dutch painter active near Alkmaar.

Subject & Meaning

The central figures are identified as members of the van Soutelande family, most likely Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and his relatives. Their inclusion alongside Saint James the Greater suggests a devotional purpose, while the heraldic symbols, a shield bearing a white frog on black and a red dragon on white, emphasize the family’s status and identity.

Context

During the early 1500s, Dutch patrons often commissioned altarpieces that combined portraiture with saintly intercession, reflecting both personal piety and social ambition. The inclusion of Saint James the Greater aligns with the saint’s popularity in the region and the family’s possible patronage of a local guild or chapel dedicated to him.

Memorial Panel with Nine Female Portraits, inner right wing of an altarpiece
Memorial Panel with Nine Female Portraits, inner right wing of an altarpiece, Master of Alkmaar

Artist & collection

Artist

Master of Alkmaar

The Master of Alkmaar was a Dutch painter active around Alkmaar at the beginning of the sixteenth century.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Rijksmuseum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece?

Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece was painted by Master of Alkmaar in 1517-01-01.

Where can I see Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece?

Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece?

Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece is associated with Northern Renaissance.