Artwork
Portrait of Samuel Cornelisz van Esch
Portrait of Samuel Cornelisz van Esch is an oil painting. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is a painted portrait executed on copper, depicting a youthful male figure.
About this work
Technique & Style
Portrait of Samuel Cornelisz van Esch, executed in 1632 by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, is an oil painting on a copper support.
Portrait of Samuel Cornelisz van Esch, executed in 1632 by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, is an oil painting on a copper support. The work measures 15.9 cm in height and 12.8 cm in width, reflecting the small-scale format typical of portrait miniatures on metal. Created in Dordrecht, the painting utilizes the smooth, non-absorbent surface of copper to achieve fine detail and luminous color saturation characteristic of the artist’s technique. The portrait falls within the genre of portraiture and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Samuel Cornelisz van Esch is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection and is cataloged under the accession number SK-A-2648. It was created in 1632 in Dordrecht on a copper support measuring 15.9 cm in height by 12.8 cm in width. The work has been part of the Rijksmuseum's exhibition spaces, including its main galleries and special exhibitions focused on Dutch Golden Age portraiture.
Context
The painting Portrait of Samuel Cornelisz van Esch was created in 1632 by Samuel Cornelisz van Esch in Dordrecht, depicting a contemporary Dutch merchant figure on copper panel. It is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection and exemplifies early Dutch portraiture's focus on individual identity and material experimentation with metal supports. Scholarship emphasizes its significance within the artist's oeuvre as a bridge between Renaissance portrait conventions and the emerging naturalistic style of 17th-century Holland, reflecting broader cultural interests in civic virtue and personal legacy.
Overview
The work is a painted portrait executed on copper, depicting a youthful male figure. He stands directly before the viewer, attired in an elaborate costume featuring a brown jacket edged with gold‑threaded lace and a white fur collar that frames his face. A small object rests in his right hand, while a dark, unadorned background accentuates the luminous quality of his skin and garments.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears to be a boy of some standing, suggested by the richness of his clothing and the presence of a decorative collar. The object he holds, though not identified, may indicate a pastime or a symbol of status, hinting at the social expectations placed upon young members of a prosperous family.
Artist & collection
