Artwork
Portrait of Petrus Jacobus Joubert - Commander-General of the South African Republic
Portrait of Petrus Jacobus Joubert - Commander-General of the South African Republic is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Thérèse Schwartze. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Thérèse Schwartze’s 1896 oil portrait presents Piet Joubert, the Commander‑General of the South African Republic. Executed in the late nineteenth century, the work resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it exemplifies the artist’s focus on formal portraiture of prominent figures.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is rendered with a full white beard and moustache, clad in a black military uniform trimmed in gold, complemented by a red‑white sash. A sword rests in his right hand, while his left hand lies calmly on his lap, signalling his rank and the authority he wielded as a military leader.
Technique & Style
Schwartze employs the richness of oil paint to achieve fine detail in the fabric’s texture and the nuanced modeling of facial features. The muted, dark background isolates the figure, allowing the gold accents and the crisp rendering of the uniform to stand out, reflecting the artist’s meticulous approach to realism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1896, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch portrait collection. Its acquisition underscores the museum’s interest in works by notable Dutch women artists and in documenting the international connections of 19th‑century political figures.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
