Artwork
Anna van Hannover (1709-59). wife of Prince Willem IV
Anna van Hannover (1709-59). wife of Prince Willem IV is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Philip van Dijk. It dates from 1735 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The 1735 miniature by Philip van Dijk depicts Anna van Hannover, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, rendered in nacre.
The 1735 miniature by Philip van Dijk depicts Anna van Hannover, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, rendered in nacre. The work is a formal portrait of the sitter wearing court dress, emphasizing her status as consort to Prince Willem IV. As a miniature intended for private circulation, the image served to reinforce dynastic ties and public recognition of the House of Orange-Nassau in the mid-18th century.
The nacre support and refined detailing align with contemporary Dutch aristocratic portrait conventions, focusing on identity and lineage rather than overt allegory.
Technique & Style
The work is a miniature painting on a nacre support, measuring approximately 6.7 cm high by 4.8 cm wide. The nacre ground provides a luminous, iridescent surface that required delicate handling and fine brushwork to achieve detail. As a miniature, the composition is tightly focused on the sitter’s face and attire, reflecting the refined, intimate style characteristic of early‑eighteenth‑century portrait miniatures.
The choice of nacre as support is unusual for portrait miniatures of the period, highlighting the artist’s technical experimentation. No specific condition information is provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
The miniature portrait of Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange was created in 1735 in the Northern Low Countries. Executed on nacre by Philip van Dijk, the work measures 6.7 cm in height and 4.8 cm in width. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.
The painting was commissioned as a portrait of the princess and has been part of the museum's holdings since its creation.
The miniature is held by the Rijksmuseum, which is listed as both its collection and location. According to the Wikidata entry, the work entered the museum's holdings as a nacre portrait painted by Philip van Dijk in 1735, depicting Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Created in 1735 by Dutch painter Philip van Dijk, this oval portrait presents Anna van Hannover, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, who was married to Prince Willem IV. Executed on a nacre surface, a mother‑of‑pearl material, the work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Context
In the early 1700s, Dutch aristocratic portraiture often highlighted marital alliances and dynastic continuity. This work reflects those conventions, presenting the princess in attire and setting that underscore her status while maintaining a restrained, personal tone.
Own this work as a print
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