Portrait of Hendrik Lijnslager, Sea Captain with the Admiralty of Amsterdam

The portrait of Hendrik Lijnslager, a sea captain associated with the Admiralty of Amsterdam, was created in 1720. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 55 cm in height and 44 cm in width. It was produced in Holland and is currently classified as an anonymous painting. The artwork is part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum and the Royal Dutch Antiquarian Society.

The work is an oil portrait of Hendrik Lijnslager, identified as a sea captain serving the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Rendered in a formal pose, the sitter is presented in elaborate silver armor with gilded detailing, a large curled wig, and a dark jacket trimmed with a white collar. The composition emphasizes his status through attire and bearing.

In the Dutch Golden Age, portraiture often served both personal commemoration and public display of civic duty. Naval officers, as key figures in protecting trade routes, were frequently portrayed in armor or uniform to underline their role within the Republic’s commercial empire.

The portrait contributes to the visual record of Dutch naval hierarchy and attire, offering scholars insight into the material culture of 17th‑century maritime officials. Its presence in a national museum underscores the enduring interest in the individuals who shaped the Netherlands’ seafaring heritage.