Artwork

Ludolph Anne Jan Wilt Baron Sloet van de Beele (1806-90). Gouverneur-generaal (1861-66)

Ludolph Anne Jan Wilt Baron Sloet van de Beele (1806-90). Gouverneur-generaal (1861-66) is an oil painting by the Realist artist Barend Leonardus Hendriks. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Barend Leonardus Hendriks painted an oil portrait of Ludolph Anne Jan Wilt Baron Sloet van de Beele in 1867. The work, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, records the former Governor‑General of the Dutch East Indies, who served from 1861 to 1866 and lived between 1806 and 1890.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is presented in full dress uniform, his dark coat adorned with gold braid and a series of medals that signal high rank and official distinction. A composed, serious expression reinforces his authority, while the inclusion of a book and a ceremonial hat suggests both intellectual and ceremonial duties associated with his gubernatorial role.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, Hendriks employs a restrained palette, allowing the gleam of gold trim and the crisp white of the trousers to contrast with the dark fabric. Subtle illumination falls on the subject’s face and shoulders, creating a modest three‑dimensional effect against an otherwise plain background.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after Sloet van de Beele’s tenure, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its 19th‑century Dutch portrait collection. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in documenting prominent figures of the Netherlands’ colonial administration.

Context

The painting belongs to a broader tradition of official portraiture that commemorated colonial officials in the mid‑19th century. Such works served both as personal memorials and as visual affirmations of the state’s reach, often displayed in governmental or public settings.