Artwork

Portrait of Cornelis van der Lijn, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies

Portrait of Cornelis van der Lijn, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies is an oil painting. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The oil portrait depicts Cornelis van der Lijn, who served as Governor‑General of the Dutch East Indies.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a portrait, its primary focus is the sitter’s likeness, presenting him in a manner typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch portraiture.

The painting is a portrait of Cornelis van der Lijn, executed in oil on panel around 1650 and now housed in the Rijksmuseum. As a portrait, its primary focus is the sitter’s likeness, presenting him in a manner typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch portraiture. The work serves to record his appearance and, by extension, his identity, reflecting the conventions of portraiture that emphasized personal presence and status without relying on specific symbolic attributes.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on a mahogany panel support, measuring 97.5 cm in height by 78.5 cm in width. Stylistically, it adheres to the Dutch portrait tradition of the mid-seventeenth century, characterized by a restrained palette and precise delineation of facial features and costume details. The handling emphasizes smooth transitions in modeling, with particular attention to the rendering of the sitter’s lace collar and the sheen of the gold chain, while the background remains subdued to focus attention on the figure. No overt signs of significant abrasion or later overpainting are indicated in the available records.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Cornelis van der Lijn was created in 1650, executed in oil paint on panel, and depicts the Dutch East Indies Governor-General as its main subject. The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. No information is available regarding its commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum.

The sources do not document a specific patron, commissioner, or intermediary owners, nor do they record a transfer history or acquisition date by the Rijksmuseum. The work is catalogued as anonymous, with no artist identified in the available records.

Overview

The oil portrait depicts Cornelis van der Lijn, who served as Governor‑General of the Dutch East Indies. He is presented in a dark, elaborately trimmed costume with a wide collar and a large, brimmed hat. A brown sash adorned with gold buttons and ornamental motifs rests across his torso, while the plain, shadowed backdrop isolates the figure, emphasizing his facial features and attire.