Portrait of Margaretha Leuveling, Wife of Justus Tjeenk

Van Hengel employs soft, diffused lighting that gently illuminates the sitter’s face and hands, creating a subtle glow. The contrast between the bright apple and the muted background curtain is achieved through careful modulation of tone, while the overall handling reflects the restrained elegance typical of mid‑18th‑century Dutch portraiture.

The portrait was executed in 1756 and has remained within Dutch collections, ultimately entering the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. Documentation links the work directly to Margaretha Leuveling and her husband, Justus Tjeenk, a notable figure of the period.

Created during a period when Dutch portraiture emphasized modesty and refined domestic representation, the painting aligns with contemporary conventions of portraying married women in genteel attire, often accompanied by symbolic objects such as fruit to convey moral or familial themes.