Artwork

Portrait of Jean Scipion Vernede, Walloon minister in Amsterdam

Portrait of Jean Scipion Vernede, Walloon minister in Amsterdam is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jacob, Houbraken. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the Leiden University Libraries.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of Jean Scipion Vernede depicts the Walloon minister in Amsterdam seated at a desk, surrounded by papers and a book, attired in antiquated clothing.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Jean Scipion Vernede, was a minister in Amsterdam's Walloon community. The painting's composition, with its emphasis on scholarly accoutrements, highlights Vernede's profession and intellectual pursuits.

Technique & Style

The work employs chiaroscuro, a technique utilizing strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, though the execution is derivative, based on an earlier painting by H. Pothoven.

History & Provenance

This portrait is a reproduction of H. Pothoven's original. It is identical to another version (no. 675), indicating a potential series or multiple commissions based on the same template.