Artwork
Portret van Augustinus Gerardus Hubertus van Rijckevorsel (1828 - ’s-Hertogenbosch - 1891)
Portret van Augustinus Gerardus Hubertus van Rijckevorsel (1828 - ’s-Hertogenbosch - 1891) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Fernand Khnopff. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Fernand Khnopff’s 1894 oil portrait presents Augustinus Gerardus Hubertus van Rijckevorsel, a Dutch gentleman who lived from 1828 to 1891. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s late‑career focus on individual likenesses rendered with restrained elegance.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown seated, his hands folded in his lap, dressed in a black coat with white collar and cuffs and gray trousers. The composed pose and direct gaze convey a sense of dignity and introspection, reflecting the conventions of 19th‑century portraiture that aimed to record personal status and character.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, Khnopff employs a muted palette dominated by dark tones, allowing the subtle contrasts of the white collar and the sitter’s skin to emerge. The background is a plain, shadowed wall, a compositional choice that isolates the figure and emphasizes the precise rendering of fabric and facial features.
History & Provenance
Created three years after van Rijckevorsel’s death, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to document notable Dutch individuals through works by internationally recognized artists such as Khnopff.
Artist & collection
Artist
Fernand Edmond Jean Marie Khnopff (12 September 1858 – 12 November 1921) was a Belgian symbolist painter and one of the founding members of the avant-garde group Les XX in 1883.
