Artwork

Portrait of Rear-Admiral Arent van Buren

Portrait of Rear-Admiral Arent van Buren, by Krzysztof Lubieniecki, unspecified, 1721
Portrait of Rear-Admiral Arent van Buren, by Krzysztof Lubieniecki, unspecified, 1721

Portrait of Rear-Admiral Arent van Buren is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Krzysztof Lubieniecki. It dates from 1721 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

That’s rare for a portrait of a naval officer—usually, the artist signed their work.

You see a man in a dark coat holding a telescope or a baton. Behind him, ships fire cannons at each other on a stormy sea. His face is calm, almost bored.

The painting was made in 1721, but no one knows who painted it. That’s rare for a portrait of a naval officer—usually, the artist signed their work. The background battle might be real, or just decoration.

To see more portraits like this, look up the Rijksmuseum.

Overview

This 1721 painting is a portrait of Rear-Admiral Arent van Buren, a Dutch naval officer. The artist remains unknown.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is depicted in armor, holding a telescope or baton, set against a backdrop of a chaotic sea battle. His calm demeanor contrasts with the turmoil behind him.

Technique & Style

The portrait features a bust-length figure within an oval frame, a common format for formal portraits of the time. The use of a dramatic seascape as a background adds a sense of action and importance to the subject.

History & Provenance

The painting is paired with another portrait, suggesting it was part of a larger collection or series. The Rijksmuseum holds similar works from the same period.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Krzysztof Lubieniecki

Artist

Krzysztof Lubieniecki

Krzysztof Lubieniecki or Christoffel Lubienietzky (1659–1729) was a Polish Baroque painter and engraver active in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.