Artwork
Portrait of Charles van der Meulen, Missionary to Curaçao

Portrait of Charles van der Meulen, Missionary to Curaçao is an oil painting by the Realist artist Unknown. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1844, this anonymous oil painting on panel presents the sitter in a formal portrait genre, serving as a visual record of his ecclesiastical vocation.
The work depicts Charles van der Meulen, identified specifically by his role as a missionary to Curaçao. Created in 1844, this anonymous oil painting on panel presents the sitter in a formal portrait genre, serving as a visual record of his ecclesiastical vocation. The composition focuses entirely on the individual, utilizing the conventions of 19th-century portraiture to document the missionary's presence and status.
Held by the Rijksmuseum, the painting functions as a historical document of a religious figure associated with the Northern Low Countries. While the specific iconographic symbols or deeper allegorical meanings are not detailed in the available records, the title and classification confirm the work's primary purpose is to represent the subject's identity and his specific mission abroad.
Technique & Style
The Portrait of Charles van der Meulen, Missionary to Curaçao is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. Created in 1844, the work measures 36 cm in height and 28.5 cm in width. Classified as a portrait genre piece from the Northern Low Countries, the painting is attributed to an anonymous artist.
The formal qualities reflect the standard portraiture conventions of the mid-19th century within the region, utilizing the durability of the panel support for the oil medium.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1844 in the Northern Low Countries as an oil paint portrait of Charles van der Meulen, a missionary to Curaçao. It was assigned the Wikidata identifier http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/8b55b752f8e8b30b88fc28610226492b and is classified as a portrait, painted on panel. The dimensions are 36 cm in height and 28.5 cm in width. The artwork entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.
Overview
Portrait of Charles van der Meulen is an oil painting depicting a young missionary to Curaçao in a somber, contemplative pose against a dark backdrop.
Context
Created during a period of religious missions in the Americas, the portrait reflects the cultural and religious exchanges of the colonial era, with Curaçao being a Dutch colony.
Legacy
The painting's legacy is not detailed, but as a representation of a colonial-era missionary, it contributes to the historical record of religious activity in the Caribbean during that time.
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