Where can I see Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau (1774-1799)?

Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau (1774-1799) is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau (1774-1799)?

Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau (1774-1799) is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau (1774-1799)

Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau (1774-1799) is an ivory painting. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The composition is tightly framed on the sitter’s head and shoulders, with subdued tonality and careful attention to the textures of hair and fabric.

The miniature is painted in watercolor on ivory and measures 3 cm in height by 1.8 cm in width, characteristic of the intimate scale of late-eighteenth-century portrait miniatures.

The handling shows fine stippled brushwork and delicate glazes to render facial features and costume details with precision. Stylistically, it adheres to the neoclassical portrait tradition, emphasizing clarity and restrained modeling over Rococo flourish. The composition is tightly framed on the sitter’s head and shoulders, with subdued tonality and careful attention to the textures of hair and fabric.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Prince Frederick of Orange-Nassau was created in 1790 in Holland, executed on ivory in miniature format. The work depicts the young prince, who lived from 1774 to 1799, and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

No further details about the commission, the specific circumstances of its creation, or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.

The Portrait of Frederik van Oranje-Nassau is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The museum, located in the Netherlands, houses this anonymous ivory portrait created in 1790. The work depicts Prince Frederick of Orange-Nassau and is classified as a portrait.

No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records, nor is there information regarding a formal exhibition history for this piece.

Overview

The work is a miniature portrait rendered in carved ivory, depicting a young man dressed in a red military coat with black lapels and silver buttons. He wears a white cravat, a star-shaped medal on his chest, and displays a pale complexion, dark eyebrows, and a composed expression. The piece measures only a few inches, characteristic of the intimate scale of ivory miniatures.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is identified as Frederik van Oranje-Nassau, a member of the Dutch royal family who lived between 1774 and 1799. His attire, a military jacket and medal, suggests a role or aspiration within the armed forces, while the formal pose and attire convey the status and decorum expected of a noble youth of his era.