Artwork
Portrait of Maerten Ruychaver (1545-1626)
Portrait of Maerten Ruychaver (1545-1626) is an oil painting. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The oil painting depicts a bearded gentleman in a dark, fur‑trimmed robe and a white ruff, set against an unadorned black backdrop.
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1653, this work is an oil painting executed on a panel support.
Created in 1653, this work is an oil painting executed on a panel support. It functions as a copy after a composition by Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt, depicting Maarten Ruychaver in the portrait genre. The piece measures 79.5 cm in height and 62.5 cm in width.
Currently held by the Rijksmuseum under the Royal Dutch Antiquarian Society, the artwork maintains the formal characteristics of a 17th-century portrait through its oil medium and panel construction.
History & Provenance
The portrait is dated 1653 and is catalogued as a later copy after an original by Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum as part of the holdings of the Royal Dutch Antiquarian Society. The work depicts Maarten Ruychaver and was created in oil on panel with dimensions of 79.5 cm in height and 62.5 cm in width.
Overview
The oil painting depicts a bearded gentleman in a dark, fur‑trimmed robe and a white ruff, set against an unadorned black backdrop. His right hand rests on his chest, and a modest emblem featuring a lion and keys appears in the upper corner. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s solemn expression and dignified bearing.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait is of Maerten Ruychaver (1545‑1626), whose mature age is suggested by his white beard and mustache. The inclusion of the crest with a lion and keys likely references his family or civic affiliations, underscoring his status and identity within his community.
Artist & collection
