Artwork
Portrait of Jacobus Scheltema, Historian
Portrait of Jacobus Scheltema, Historian is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Willem Bartel van der Kooi. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Willem Bartel van der Kooi’s oil portrait, painted in 1808, presents the Dutch historian Jacobus Scheltema. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures the subject in a three‑quarter view, emphasizing his intellectual bearing.
Subject & Meaning
Scheltema is shown wearing a dark coat, white cravat and a star‑shaped medal on his chest, symbols of his scholarly status. His direct gaze and composed expression convey a sense of measured authority appropriate to a man of letters.
Technique & Style
Van der Kooi employs a restrained chiaroscuro, using soft brushwork to model light across the face, particularly around the eyes and cheeks. The dark brown, unadorned background isolates the figure, allowing subtle tonal variations to define form without decorative distraction.
History & Provenance
Created in the early nineteenth century, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the source). It remains displayed as an example of Dutch portraiture from the period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Willem Bartel van der Kooi (1768–1836) was an artist, born in Augustinusga.
