Artwork

Portrait of Adriaen Paets, Director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected 1703

Portrait of Adriaen Paets, Director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected 1703 is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pieter van der Werff. It dates from 1712 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Pieter van der Werff’s 1712 oil portrait presents Adriaen Paets, who served as a director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company after his election in 1703. The canvas, now part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, exemplifies the refined aesthetic of early‑18th‑century Dutch painting.

Subject & Meaning

Paets is shown with flowing, curled hair, a white lace collar, and a brown coat edged in gold, his left shoulder draped with a red velvet cloak. His neutral expression and leftward gaze convey a composed, authoritative presence appropriate to his commercial leadership role.

Technique & Style

The work employs a subdued palette of soft hues and delicate brushwork typical of the period’s rococo influence. A dark backdrop isolates the figure, while a subtle circular frame adds compositional balance, emphasizing the sitter’s dignified posture.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1700s, the portrait remained in private collections before entering the Rijksmuseum. Van der Werff, active during the Dutch Golden Age, often collaborated with his older brother, Adriaen van der Werff, before establishing his own reputation.