Where can I see Portrait of Pieter Pietersz Heijn (1577-1629)?

Portrait of Pieter Pietersz Heijn (1577-1629) is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Pieter Pietersz Heijn (1577-1629)?

Portrait of Pieter Pietersz Heijn (1577-1629) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of Pieter Pietersz Heijn (1577-1629)

Portrait of Pieter Pietersz Heijn (1577-1629) is an oil painting. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is an oil painting portraying Pieter Pietersz Heijn, a Dutch figure who lived from 1577 to 1629.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays the Dutch naval commander Piet Pieterszoon Hein, a celebrated figure in 17th-century maritime history.

The painting portrays the Dutch naval commander Piet Pieterszoon Hein, a celebrated figure in 17th-century maritime history. Rendered as an oil portrait on panel, the work emphasizes his status as a national hero through conventional heroic iconography typical of Dutch Golden Age portraiture. The depiction aligns with the genre's purpose of commemorating distinguished individuals, using formal composition and sober realism to convey authority and virtue.

The subject's identity as a legendary sea captain is central to the work's symbolic meaning, representing Dutch maritime prowess and leadership during the country's rise as a global naval power.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting on wooden panel, measuring 57.3 cm in height and 39.5 cm in width. Executed in 1635, it portrays the Dutch naval commander Piet Pieterszoon Hein. The surface bears the characteristic handling of 17th-century Dutch portraiture, with a tightly rendered facial expression and a restrained palette that emphasizes chiaroscuro modeling.

The composition is formal yet intimate, presenting the sitter in a three-quarter view against a muted background that directs attention to his dignified posture and the subtle detailing of his attire.

History & Provenance

The painting is dated to 1635 and is attributed to an anonymous hand within the collection context of the Rijksmuseum (National Art Gallery of the Netherlands).

The work depicts Pieter Pietersz Heijn, a Dutch naval officer, and is catalogued among the museum’s holdings, with dimensions recorded as 57.3 cm in height and 39.5 cm in width. The provenance is documented within the Rijksmuseum’s collection records, which identify the institution as the current owner and location of the painting.

The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum, National Art Gallery of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, as part of its permanent collection.

Its inventory number is SK-C-2203.

The work has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in the context of its permanent display of Dutch Golden Age portraits, including in the Gallery of Honour.

Overview

The work is an oil painting portraying Pieter Pietersz Heijn, a Dutch figure who lived from 1577 to 1629. Rendered in a dark interior, the composition centers on a man dressed in a gold‑trimmed black costume, accented by a white lace collar and a green sash. His left hand rests on a cane, and the floor beneath him is rendered in a checkerboard pattern, giving the scene a formal, dignified presence.

Context

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the work reflects the era’s emphasis on individual achievement and the burgeoning middle class. Portraits of merchants and civic leaders were common, serving both as personal commemoration and as visual statements of the economic vitality of the Republic.