Artwork

Portrait of Petrus Bertius, Professor at Leiden

Portrait of Petrus Bertius, Professor at Leiden, by Unknown, unspecified, 1716
Portrait of Petrus Bertius, Professor at Leiden, by Unknown, unspecified, 1716

Portrait of Petrus Bertius, Professor at Leiden is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is a painted portrait of Petrus Bertius, a noted professor at Leiden University.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted portrait of Petrus Bertius, a noted professor at Leiden University. Rendered on canvas, the image presents the sitter in a dark coat edged with fur, a ruffled collar, and short, neatly trimmed hair with a modest beard. He gazes directly at the viewer against a uniform gray backdrop, emphasizing his presence and status.

Subject & Meaning

Bertius, a scholar of the early seventeenth century, is depicted in attire that signals academic and social standing. The direct eye contact and sober composition suggest an intention to convey intellectual authority and personal dignity, typical of portraiture intended for academic or civic contexts.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the painter attends closely to the texture of the fur trim, the sheen of the dark fabric, and the nuanced modeling of the face. The limited palette and flat background focus attention on the sitter, while the crisp rendering of details reflects the Dutch portrait tradition of the period.

History & Provenance

The portrait is currently part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Its acquisition history is not detailed in the available records, but its presence in a museum dedicated to cultural artifacts indicates recognition of its value as a document of scholarly identity in early modern Europe.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.