Artwork

Family portrait of stadtholder Willem V (1748-1806), Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820) and their three children

Family portrait of stadtholder Willem V (1748-1806), Wilhelmina van Pruisen (1751-1820) and their three children is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist Pieter le Sage. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1790 by Dutch painter Pieter le Sage, this intimate family portrait presents the stadtholder Willem V, his wife Wilhelmina of Prussia, and their three offspring. Executed on a single sheet of ivory, the work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies late‑18th‑century courtly portraiture, emphasizing the cohesion of the princely household.

Subject & Meaning

The composition places the adult couple centrally, with Willem V in a blue coat trimmed with gold buttons and a red cravat, while Wilhelmina appears in a light gray dress topped by a tall white wig. Their three children are arranged before them: a boy in a striped shirt with a green sash, a girl in a light dress with a bow, and a younger child standing in a dark blue gown, underscoring lineage and familial unity.

Technique & Style

The use of ivory as a support yields a luminous, muted palette, allowing fine brushwork to render delicate fabrics and subtle facial expressions. The plain background eliminates distractions, directing attention to the figures’ attire and gestures. Le Sage’s handling reflects the restrained elegance typical of Dutch court portraiture in the final decades of the eighteenth century.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the portrait remained in the private collection of the House of Orange‑Nassau before entering the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of Dutch political and familial portraiture. Its attribution to Pieter le Sage has been consistently affirmed by scholarly catalogues of the artist’s oeuvre.