Who painted Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam?

Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam was painted by Johan de la Rocquette in 1668.

Where can I see Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam?

Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam?

Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam

Johan de la Rocquette , 1668

Portrait of Philippus Baldaeus and Gerrit Mossopotam is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Johan de la Rocquette. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work portrays two seated figures in an interior setting, one dressed in garments of Asian origin.

About this work

Overview

The work portrays two seated figures in an interior setting, one dressed in garments of Asian origin. The portrait was commissioned by Philippus Baldaeus after his return to the Dutch Republic, serving as a visual record of his tenure with the Dutch East India Company in Ceylon between 1654 and 1665.

Subject & Meaning

Philippus Baldaeus, a VOC minister, is identified by his distinctive Eastern attire, symbolising his years abroad. The second figure is likely Gerrit Mossopotam, a contemporary who shared Baldaeus’s household and is thought to have assisted in translating Christian texts, suggesting a partnership of religious and scholarly activity.

Technique & Style

Executed in a conventional 17th‑century Dutch portrait format, the painting employs a restrained palette and careful modelling of flesh to convey realism. The contrast between the exotic clothing and the modest interior underscores the sitter’s cross‑cultural experience while adhering to the period’s emphasis on sober, dignified representation.

History & Provenance

Baldaeus ordered the canvas after his repatriation, intending it as a commemoration of his service in Ceylon. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains documented as part of the museum’s holdings of Dutch portraiture linked to the VOC era.

Context

The portrait reflects the broader Dutch engagement with Asia during the mid‑1600s, when merchants and missionaries alike returned with material culture that influenced domestic visual culture. By depicting Asian dress, the painting signals both personal experience and the expanding horizons of Dutch society under the VOC’s commercial network.