Artwork
Portrait of Johan Wolphert van Brederode (1599-1655)
Portrait of Johan Wolphert van Brederode (1599-1655) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Rossum. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Jan van Rossum’s 1647 oil portrait presents Johan Wolfert van Brederode, a Dutch nobleman, astride a white horse within an open landscape. The composition balances the rider’s dignified presence against a muted sky and distant architectural forms, emphasizing both his status and his affinity for equestrian pursuits.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays van Brederode in full riding attire, complete with a brown‑golded jacket, white shirt, and a black hat trimmed with a white plume, underscoring his aristocratic rank. The inclusion of the horse, rendered with a flowing mane and elaborate tack, reinforces the cultural association of horsemanship with power and prestige in the Dutch Golden Age.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting demonstrates a meticulous realism characteristic of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch portraiture. Van Rossum renders textures—fabric, feather, and leather—with fine brushwork, while the subdued palette and careful modeling of light give the figures a tangible presence against the atmospheric background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1647, the portrait entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Jan van Rossum is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records linking the artist to the van Brederode family during that period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
