Artwork
Portrait of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck and his Family
Portrait of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck and his Family is an oil painting by Pierre Paul Prud'hon. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a genre piece, it serves to document the appearance and presence of the Dutch statesman alongside his relatives during the early 19th century.
The work depicts Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck as the central figure, accompanied by his family in a formal group arrangement. Created in 1801 by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, the painting functions as a portrait that identifies Schimmelpenninck as the main subject. As a genre piece, it serves to document the appearance and presence of the Dutch statesman alongside his relatives during the early 19th century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1801, Portrait of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck and his Family is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 263.5 cm in height and 200 cm in width, establishing it as a substantial group portrait. As a genre piece classified as a portrait, the composition centers on the depiction of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck alongside his family members.
The medium of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering characteristic of the artist's style during this period.
History & Provenance
The painting Portrait of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck and his Family was created in 1801 by Pierre Paul Prud'hon as an oil on canvas work. It portrays the Dutch banker Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck and his family, and has been part of the Rijksmuseum collection since its acquisition, remaining on display in the museum's gallery dedicated to Dutch portraiture.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. The work is catalogued on canvas, measuring 263.5 cm in height by 200 cm in width, and has been inventoried as part of the museum's holdings since at least the digitization of its records.
No specific accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond its presence in the Rijksmuseum collection is documented.
Overview
Painted in 1801 by French Neo-classical artist Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, Portrait of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck and his Family is an oil-on-canvas work depicting the Dutch diplomat and his family in a serene woodland setting.
Context
As a Neo-classical piece, it reflects the period's emphasis on harmony, naturalism, and emotional restraint. The choice of a woodland setting for a family portrait was unconventional for the time, distinguishing Prud'hon's approach.
Legacy
While the painting's direct influence is not widely documented, it represents Prud'hon's skill in blending portraiture with the thematic and stylistic elements of Neo-classicism, contributing to the broader legacy of French painting in the early 19th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (French pronunciation: 4 April 1758 – 16 February 16, 1823) was a French Neo-classical painter and draughtsman best known in his own time for his allegorical paintings and portraits, now for his drawings.
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