Artwork

Portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820), wife to prince William V of Orange

Portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820), wife to prince William V of Orange is an ivory painting. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work portrays Wilhelmina of Prussia, spouse of Prince William V of Orange, seated in an elegant chair while holding an open book.

About this work

Technique & Style

No information is provided regarding the specific handling of the medium, the condition of the ivory support, or the stylistic qualities of the execution.

The work is executed on ivory, a support commonly associated with miniature portraiture in the eighteenth century. Catalogued as a painting, it adheres to the conventions of the portrait genre, presenting the sitter in a small-scale format suited to private display. The piece measures 11 cm in height by 7.2 cm in width, a compact dimension consistent with portable keepsake likenesses produced in Holland in 1770.

No information is provided regarding the specific handling of the medium, the condition of the ivory support, or the stylistic qualities of the execution.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen was created in 1770, as recorded in both the internal catalogue entry and the Wikidata record for the work. The painting is executed on ivory and measures 11 cm in height by 7.2 cm in width, with the Wikidata entry indicating it was produced in Holland. The work is classified as an anonymous painting, with no artist attribution recorded in the available sources, and no commission details are documented.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located according to the Wikidata record. No further information regarding prior ownership, acquisition history, or chain of custody is provided in the available sources.

The ivory portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work, created in 1770, is cataloged as an anonymous painting within the museum's holdings. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the institution identifies the piece by its depiction of the Princess and its physical dimensions of 11 cm in height and 7.2 cm in width. No exhibition history is documented in the current sources.

Legacy

The painting’s later reputation rests on its rarity as an ivory portrait and its presence in a major national collection. After remaining in private hands, it entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where scholars cite it as an example of 18th‑century Dutch portraiture on unconventional support. Its depiction of Wilhelmina of Prussia has been referenced in studies of Prussian‑Orange familial connections, reinforcing the visual narrative of political alliances through marriage.

Overview

The work portrays Wilhelmina of Prussia, spouse of Prince William V of Orange, seated in an elegant chair while holding an open book. She is dressed in a green‑and‑white striped gown complemented by a pink shawl, her hair arranged in a high powdered wig. A small dog rests on her lap, with another canine figure lying on the floor behind her.

Subject & Meaning

The composition emphasizes the sitter’s status and domestic virtues, linking literacy, represented by the book, with the gentle companionship of the dogs. The attire and pose reflect the courtly fashion of late‑18th‑century Dutch aristocracy, while the inclusion of pets underscores themes of loyalty and affection within the household.