Artwork

Portret van Pangeran Ario Soejono, minister zonder portefeuille in oorlogskabinet te Londen

Anton Abraham van Anrooy , 1914

Portret van Pangeran Ario Soejono, minister zonder portefeuille in oorlogskabinet te Londen is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Anton Abraham van Anrooy. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Anton Abraham van Anrooy, a Dutch-born artist who later naturalised as a British citizen, painted a portrait in 1914 of Prince Ario Soejono, who served as a minister without portfolio in the Dutch wartime cabinet based in London. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s early 20th‑century portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Prince Ario Soejono, is shown seated in a formal wooden chair, wearing dark ceremonial robes with gold‑embroidered trousers and a neatly arranged headwrap. The composition emphasizes his official status within the exile government, while the restrained setting suggests a dignified, private moment amid the wartime diaspora.

Technique & Style

Executed in an impressionistic manner, the painting balances loose brushwork with careful attention to surface texture. The gold embroidery on the trousers and the polished wood of the chair catch light, creating a subtle glow that contrasts with the muted green wall and the striped lamp shade behind the figure.

History & Provenance

Created during the First World War, the portrait reflects the presence of Dutch political figures in London after the German invasion of the Netherlands. After its completion, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of wartime expatriate activity.

Context

The work belongs to a period when van Anrooy, trained in the Netherlands, was adapting to British artistic circles. His choice of an impressionist approach aligns with contemporary European trends, while the subject matter documents the political realities of the Dutch government‑in‑exile during 1914‑1918.