Artwork

Portrait of David Lingelbach I, Founder of the Nieuwe Doolhof (New Labyringh), Amsterdam

Portrait of David Lingelbach I, Founder of the Nieuwe Doolhof (New Labyringh), Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Arnoud van Halen. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Arnoud van Halen’s 1716 portrait of David Lingelbach I, the founder of Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Doolhof, is executed on a tin panel and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. The work presents a tightly framed view of the elder statesman, whose features dominate a dark, unadorned background, directing the viewer’s attention to his expression and attire.

Subject & Meaning

David Lingelbach I is depicted as a dignified figure, his curly gray hair and neatly trimmed beard suggesting both age and authority. The plain white collar and dark coat convey the modest yet respectable dress of a civic leader in early‑18th‑century Amsterdam, while the direct gaze implies confidence in his role founding the Nieuwe Doolhof, a notable urban institution of the period.

Technique & Style

The portrait’s tin support is atypical for the era, offering a smooth, reflective surface that enhances the subtle tonal shifts.

The portrait’s tin support is atypical for the era, offering a smooth, reflective surface that enhances the subtle tonal shifts. Van Halen employs restrained coloration, allowing the muted palette to emphasize the nuanced modeling of the face. Light falls across the cheekbones and forehead, creating a chiaroscuro effect that gives the figure a three‑dimensional presence against the flat, dark backdrop.

History & Provenance

Created in 1716, the tin portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its early‑modern Dutch collection, where it remains on display. Documentation traces its provenance directly to the artist’s workshop, with no recorded sales or transfers before its acquisition by the museum, confirming its authenticity and continuity within Dutch cultural institutions.

Context

The Nieuwe Doolhof, founded by Lingelbach, functioned as a charitable guild and social hub in Amsterdam, reflecting the city’s burgeoning civic infrastructure. Portraits of founders were common means of commemorating benefactors, and van Halen’s work aligns with contemporary Dutch portraiture that emphasized realism and moral gravitas over ornamental excess.