Who painted Portrait of an officer?

Portrait of an officer was painted by Nicolaas Wieringa in 1668-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of an officer?

Portrait of an officer is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of an officer?

Portrait of an officer is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of an officer?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of an officer are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of an officer

Nicolaas Wieringa , 1668

Portrait of an officer is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaas Wieringa. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The sitter's gestures and uniform elements function as conventional symbols of martial virtue and civic duty within 17th‑century Dutch portraiture.

The work portrays a military officer rendered in oil on canvas, its composition emphasizing formal pose and attire that signal rank and authority. The sitter's gestures and uniform elements function as conventional symbols of martial virtue and civic duty within 17th‑century Dutch portraiture. As part of the Rijksmuseum's holdings, the painting is contextualized within the broader tradition of civic and elite portraiture that celebrated public service and social standing.

History & Provenance

Portrait of an officer is an oil painting on canvas attributed to Dutch artist Nicolaas Wieringa, created in 1668. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. It was commissioned to portray a military officer and was executed using oil paint on canvas, measuring 100 cm in height and 81.5 cm in width.

The painting was cataloged in the Rijksmuseum collection and documented as part of the museum's holdings. Its creation is dated to 1668 based on archival records and museum documentation.

The Portrait of an Officer by Nicolaas Wieringa is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is recorded as part of the museum's holdings.

The work is catalogued as an oil painting on canvas, with recorded dimensions of 100 cm in height and 81.5 cm in width, and is dated to 1668. Its classification within the museum's records is as a portrait, depicting a military officer.

No specific inventory or accession number, nor any documented exhibition history, is provided in the available sources.

Overview

Nicolaas Wieringa’s 1668 oil painting presents a solitary military figure against a muted backdrop. The officer is rendered in a formal pose, his attire and bearing conveying the status of a commissioned man of the Dutch Republic. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it is displayed among other seventeenth‑century Dutch portraits.

Technique & Style

Wieringa employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting the illuminated face and richly colored costume with the surrounding darkness. Careful modeling of the fabric’s folds and the subtle play of light across the cheek enhance the three‑dimensionality of the figure. The palette is restrained, allowing the gold and red details to stand out against the subdued background.