Artwork
Matthijs Balen Jansz (1611-91), poet and chronicler of Dordrecht
Matthijs Balen Jansz (1611-91), poet and chronicler of Dordrecht is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan Maurits Quinkhard. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Around 1750 Jan Maurits Quinkhard executed a copper portrait of Matthijs Balen Jansz, a 17th‑century poet and chronicler from Dordrecht. The work, now held by the Rijksmuseum, presents the sitter in a dignified pose that foregrounds his intellectual vocation.
Subject & Meaning
Balen is shown in profile, dressed in a black robe with a white collar, his brown hair falling to his shoulders. He holds a sheet of paper, a visual cue to his literary activity, and meets the viewer’s eye, underscoring his role as a learned figure in the city’s cultural memory.
Technique & Style
Executed on copper, the portrait employs a restrained Rococo aesthetic, with subtle chiaroscuro that models the figure against a muted interior. The smooth surface of the metal allows fine detail in the fabric and facial features, while the limited background emphasizes the sitter’s presence.
History & Provenance
Quinkhard, an 18th‑century Dutch painter and print designer, created the image several decades after Balen’s death, likely as part of a commemorative series. The copper plate entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains a documented example of mid‑century portraiture.
Context
The portrait reflects the Dutch tradition of honoring local intellectuals through formal likenesses. By placing Balen against a simple brown wall and a modest interior painting, Quinkhard aligns the work with contemporary practices that highlighted personal achievement over elaborate settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Maurits Quinkhard (28 January 1688 – 11 November 1772) was an 18th-century painter and print designer from the Dutch Republic.
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Portrait of Theodorus Velius, Writer of the Chronicle of Horn
Portrait of a Man
