Who painted Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family?

Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family was painted by Cornelis Troost in 1736.

Where can I see Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family?

Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family?

Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family

Cornelis Troost , 1736

Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Cornelis Troost. It dates from 1736 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Cornelis Troost’s 1736 oil painting, titled Portrait of a Member of the Van der Mersch Family, presents a single gentleman seated within an opulently appointed interior. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the Rococo taste for refined elegance and intimate domestic scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, dressed in elaborate 18th‑century attire with lace trim, curled wig, and numerous buttons, holds an open sheet of music while a violin rests on a richly colored rug. The inclusion of musical elements suggests a cultured leisure activity, reflecting the social status and cultivated interests of the Van der Mersch family.

Technique & Style

Troost employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing the figure’s face to emerge from a darker backdrop with a gentle illumination that highlights textures of fabric and wood. The oil medium renders the lace, velvet, and polished surfaces with a delicate sheen characteristic of Rococo portraiture.

History & Provenance

Executed in 1736, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch 18th‑century collection. Documentation traces its ownership to the Van der Mersch family before its acquisition by the museum, where it remains on display.

Context

The painting reflects the period’s fascination with music as a symbol of refinement and the domestic sphere as a setting for portraiture. Troost, known for genre scenes and theatrical subjects, applied his skill in rendering social nuance to this private commission, aligning with contemporary Dutch elite portrait conventions.