Artwork

Portrait of Mattheus van den Broucke (1620-1685). Councillor of the Indies

Portrait of Mattheus van den Broucke (1620-1685). Councillor of the Indies is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Samuel van Hoogstraten. It dates from 1674 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a representative of the Dutch Golden Age portrait genre, the painting functions primarily as a formal record of the sitter's social and political standing.

The artwork is a portrait depicting Mattheus van den Broucke, a Councillor of the Indies. As a representative of the Dutch Golden Age portrait genre, the painting functions primarily as a formal record of the sitter's social and political standing. By capturing van den Broucke in his official capacity, the work represents and commemorates his high administrative rank within the Dutch colonial framework.

History & Provenance

Samuel van Hoogstraten painted Portrait of Mattheus van den Broucke (1620-1685), Councillor of the Indies, between 1670 and 1678 as documented in the artwork record. The work is a portrait created during van Hoogstraten's mature period, reflecting his engagement with portraiture while in Vienna and later retirement to Dordrecht. This painting exemplifies his technical skill in capturing likeness and status, consistent with his role as a court painter and his documented practice of portrait commissions for figures like Mathys van den Brouck.

The attribution to van Hoogstraten is confirmed by multiple authoritative sources including the artwork classification, biographical records,, and scholarly analysis of his oeuvre.

Overview

Samuel van Hoogstraten’s 1674 portrait presents Mattheus van den Broucke, a senior official of the Dutch East India Company, in a formal pose before a balcony that opens onto a seascape. The sitter is dressed in a black doublet trimmed with gold, a white ruffled collar, and a gold pendant bearing a ship, while holding a cane that underscores his status.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the work reflects van Hoogstraten’s precise handling of light and texture, characteristic of Dutch Golden Age portraiture. The contrast between the dark, richly embroidered clothing and the luminous sea backdrop demonstrates his skill in rendering materiality and atmospheric depth.

Context

Van Hoogstraten, a Dordrecht‑born painter, poet, and art theorist, was active during the latter half of the 17th century, a period when portraiture served both personal commemoration and corporate propaganda for the VOC. This work exemplifies the intersection of individual status and the broader economic ambitions of the Dutch Republic.

Portrait of Mattheus van den Broucke (1620-85), Governor of the Indies, with the gold chain and medal presented to him by the Dutch East India Company in 1670, Samuel van Hoogstraten

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Artist & collection

Artist

Samuel van Hoogstraten

Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (2 August 1627 in Dordrecht – 19 October 1678 in Dordrecht) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, who was also a poet and author on art theory.