Artwork
Portrait of Cornelis Hendriksz Udemans, Poet in Veere
Portrait of Cornelis Hendriksz Udemans, Poet in Veere 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
Created circa 1750 by Jan Maurits Quinkhard, this copper portrait presents Cornelis Hendriksz Udemans, a poet linked to the town of Veere in the Dutch Republic. Executed in the Rococo period, the work resides in the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies mid‑eighteenth‑century Dutch portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Cornelis Hendriksz Udemans, is shown in a dark, buttoned jacket with a crisp white collar, attire typical of a learned gentleman of his time. The title indicates his literary vocation, suggesting the portrait was intended to commemorate his cultural role within the Veere community.
Technique & Style
Quinkhard employed a realistic approach, rendering fine details of the face and clothing on a copper substrate. Subtle chiaroscuro creates a three‑dimensional effect, while the muted green‑brown background provides a restrained setting that emphasizes the sitter’s features without distraction.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch Republic collection, reflecting the museum’s focus on national artistic heritage. Its attribution to Quinkhard, an established painter and print designer, is supported by stylistic analysis and documentation dating the work to the early 1750s.
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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