Portrait of Jan Boudaen Courten (1635-1716), lord of St Laurens, Schellach and Popkensburg. Councillor of Middelburg and director of the Dutch East India Caompany

The work follows the Dutch portrait tradition of restrained composition, placing the sitter against a neutral, dark background that emphasizes his attire and features. Janssens employs subtle chiaroscuro, allowing light to model the folds of the brown robe, the lace collar, and the glossy texture of the map, while shadows recede the surrounding space.

Born in England and raised in Utrecht, Janssens van Ceulen the Younger worked primarily in the Dutch Republic. After its creation, the portrait entered private collections before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on view as a representative example of 17th‑century Dutch portraiture.

The painting reflects the social standing of Dutch mercantile elites during the Golden Age, when civic officials often commissioned portraits to assert their status. Courten’s attire—rich brown fabric with wide sleeves and a white lace collar—signals wealth and the fashion of the period, while the map underscores the importance of global trade networks to the Dutch economy.