Artwork
Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia (1751-1820), Wife of Prince Willem V
Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia (1751-1820), Wife of Prince Willem V is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Benjamin Samuel Bolomey. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Benjamin Samuel Bolomey, a Swiss artist who worked mainly in the Dutch Republic, painted this oil portrait of Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia in 1770. The work belongs to the late Rococo period and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina, Princess of Orange and wife of Prince Willem V. She is shown seated, dressed in an elaborate white gown with floral motifs, a large powdered wig adorned with feathers, and a red sash bearing a small gold emblem that signals her noble rank.
Technique & Style
Bolomey employs a refined Rococo palette, using soft, muted tones to model the figure’s flesh and fabric. The contrast between the luminous dress and the dark, curtained background enhances the sitter’s presence, while the smooth brushwork conveys a calm, composed demeanor.
History & Provenance
Created during Bolomey’s productive period as a portraitist in the Dutch Republic, the painting later entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of 18th‑century European portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Benjamin Samuel Bolomey (19 May 1739 – 19 December 1819) was a Swiss painter and politician. As an artist he spent most of his career as a portrait painter in the Netherlands.
