Portrait of William IV (1711–1751), Prince of Orange by Joseph Aved
Joseph Aved's portrait of William IV, Prince of Orange, was painted in 1751 and hangs today at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. William died in October of that same year, at the age of forty.
The Prince stands in polished armor trimmed with gold, his white wig neatly set. His left hand gestures toward the harbor, where a ship flies the Dutch flag. In the lower left corner, a discarded helmet rests on the ground.
Aved was born in Amsterdam to Dutch parents but built his career in Paris, becoming one of the leading Rococo portraitists of Louis XV's reign. Known as le Camelot, he painted aristocrats and the Ottoman ambassador to France. This portrait reflects the diplomatic ties between the Dutch Republic and France at mid-century.
The portrait captures a ruler at the height of confidence, in a year he would not outlive. The ships behind him still fly the Dutch flag. The helmet rests on the ground.
Details
Transcript
1751. William IV was Prince of Orange. He meets the painter with steady confidence. One hand points toward the harbor. Beside him: a fallen helmet. The lead ship carries the Dutch flag. He died that year. He was forty.