Artwork
Portrait of a Minister
Portrait of a Minister is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Roelof Koets. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work depicts a 17th‑century Dutch clergyman seated at a table, his gaze directed toward an open Bible.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts a 17th‑century Dutch clergyman seated at a table, his gaze directed toward an open Bible. A modest hourglass rests on the tabletop, while a curtain reveals a background lined with shelves of books.
Subject & Meaning
The figure’s plain black attire emphasizes his role as a preacher rather than personal status. The open Scripture and surrounding volumes signal scholarly devotion, and the hourglass serves as a memento mori, reminding viewers of life's fleeting nature.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on canvas, the painting employs restrained chiaroscuro to model the minister’s form against a dimly lit interior. Fine brushwork captures the texture of the leather‑bound books and the delicate glass of the hourglass, while the muted palette reinforces the solemn atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in the Dutch Golden Age, the portrait likely originated as a private commission for a local congregation. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum collection in the early 20th century, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century Dutch portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Portrait of Barend Hakvoort (1652-1735)
Jacob de Witt (1589-1674)
Portrait of Barend Hakvoort (1652-1735), bookseller, church reader and catechism master in Zwolle
Jan Baptist van Caukercken, Chaplain of the Guild of Saint Luke
Kunstkammerforvalter Bendix Grodtschilling den ældre, kunstnerens fader
Maximus Gerardi
Portrait of a 34 year old man
Portrait of David Herregouts
The Artist's Father, Bendix Grodtschilling the Elder, Warden of the Royal Kunstkammer
Portrait of a man
Portrait of a man at the table covered with a carpet
Portrait of Barend Hakvoort (1652-1735)