Artwork
Prince Maurits astride the white warhorse presented to him after his victory at Nieuwpoort
Prince Maurits astride the white warhorse presented to him after his victory at Nieuwpoort is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Paulus van Hillegaert. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work thus commemorates a decisive victory and consolidates the prince’s image as a heroic leader in the Dutch Republic’s early conflicts.
The painting depicts Prince Maurits of Nassau-Siegen seated on a white warhorse, an animal presented to him following his military triumph at the Battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600. The equestrian portrait positions the prince as a victorious commander, emphasizing his leadership and martial prowess. The white horse functions as a symbolic attribute of nobility and triumph, while the rider’s posture and regalia underscore his status as a distinguished military figure.
The work thus commemorates a decisive victory and consolidates the prince’s image as a heroic leader in the Dutch Republic’s early conflicts.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, measuring 37.3 cm in height and 33.2 cm in width.
The handling reflects the restrained, polished manner typical of early seventeenth-century Dutch equestrian portraiture, with smooth blending of flesh tones and meticulous detailing of the horse’s harness and Maurits’s attire. The composition is tightly framed around the sitter and horse, emphasizing verticality and symmetry.
The condition is not described in the sources, but the work’s compact format and fine finish suggest stable preservation.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Paulus van Hillegaert (I) in 1633, executed in oil paint on panel as an equestrian portrait of Prince Maurits mounted on the white horse he received following his victory at Nieuwpoort.
The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. Its modest dimensions, 37.3 cm in height by 33.2 cm in width, are consistent with a small-format commemorative panel rather than a large-scale commission. The sources do not document the original commissioner, the circumstances of acquisition, or any subsequent ownership transfers prior to the work's entry into the Rijksmuseum collection.
Overview
Created in 1633 by Paulus van Hillegaert the Elder, this oil painting records Prince Maurits on a white warhorse shortly after the Dutch triumph at Nieuwpoort. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the period’s interest in commemorating military success through equestrian portraiture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paulus van Hillegaert (I) or Pauwels van Hillegaert (I) (1596–1640) was a Dutch painter and draughtsman, known mainly for his landscapes, military scenes and equestrian portraits.
Prince Maurits, accompanied by Prince Frederik Hendrik, Frederick V of Bohemia and his wife Elizabeth Stuart, and others, on the Buitenhof, The Hague
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