Portrait of Albertus Henricus Wiese, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies

De Lelie employed a neoclassical approach, rendering fine details on copper with a smooth, luminous surface. The artist’s careful brushwork captures the texture of the embroidered coat and the sheen of the red collar, while the subdued brown curtain and background provide depth. The use of copper allows for crisp lines and a refined tonal range characteristic of the period’s portraiture.

Trained under A. Peeters and Andreas Bernardus de Quertenmont, de Lelie settled in Amsterdam after counsel from Professor Camper, producing numerous official portraits and cabinet pieces. This particular portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains accessible for study, reflecting both the artist’s career trajectory and the Dutch state’s practice of commemorating colonial officials.