Artwork

Het wapen van Susanna van Collen (1692-1745), echtgenote van Jacob Feitama

Het wapen van Susanna van Collen (1692-1745), echtgenote van Jacob Feitama is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is a painted coat of arms executed on parchment, featuring a central red shield crossed by gold bars.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted coat of arms executed on parchment, featuring a central red shield crossed by gold bars. Above the shield sits a crown, while surrounding the composition are swirling motifs in red and blue. An angelic figure with wings holds a scepter aloft, and a banner at the lower edge bears the inscription “VAN COTTE.”

Subject & Meaning

The heraldic design combines traditional symbols of authority and lineage. The crown and angelic figure convey noble status and divine protection, common in Dutch family crests of the early eighteenth century. The gold crossbars on a red field identify the specific family arms, while the “VAN COTTE” banner records the surname associated with the shield.

Technique & Style

Rendered in vivid pigments on a parchment substrate, the piece displays a bright palette typical of Dutch heraldic art. The brushwork emphasizes clear outlines and flat color fields, allowing the intricate scrollwork and figural elements to stand out against the background. The use of parchment, rather than canvas or wood, reflects a portable, documentary function for the emblem.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the period of Susanna van Collen (1692‑1745), wife of Jacob Feitama, the coat of arms likely served a familial or commemorative purpose. Its survival on parchment suggests it may have been displayed in a domestic setting or used in legal documentation. The work is now part of a collection that documents Dutch heraldic traditions.