Abraham van Riebeeck (1653-1713). Gouverneur-generaal (1709-13)

The portrait of Abraham van Riebeeck was executed in oil paint on a copper support, measuring 34.5 cm in height and 27 cm in width, and was created in 1775. The work was classified as a portrait and is part of the Rijksmuseum collection, where it remains on display. Its formal qualities reflect the conventions of 18th-century Dutch portraiture, emphasizing precise rendering of the subject’s attire and dignified posture.

The portrait of Abraham van Riebeeck was produced in 1775, more than six decades after the sitter's death in 1713, indicating it is a posthumous commemorative work rather than a life study. It was executed in oil on copper, a technique associated with finely detailed small-scale portraits of the period. The painting entered the holdings of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the collection.

No information on the original commissioner, the artist responsible for the design, or the successive private owners through whom the panel passed before reaching the museum is documented in the available sources. Likewise, the chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the Rijksmuseum is not recorded.

This 18th-century copper painting portrays Abraham van Riebeeck, who served as Gouverneur-generaal from 1709 to 1713. The subject is depicted in formal attire, holding a sword, indicating a ceremonial or official context.

The work reflects the Dutch colonial presence in the East Indies during the early 18th century, capturing the image of a key figure in this historical context.