Claudine van Royen (geb 1712). Echtgenote van Pieter Teding van Berkhout

About this artwork

buitenmaat: diepte 2,8 cm (drager incl. SK-L-4113)

Art Historical Context

This intimate portrait, *Claudine van Royen (born 1712), Wife of Pieter Teding van Berkhout*, painted by Hieronymus van Mij in 1757, captures the poised elegance of an 18th-century Dutchwoman. Van der Mij, a-born artist active in The Hague, specialized in refined portraits of the bourgeoisie, blending the lingering influences of Dutch Golden Age realism with emerging Rococo softness in pose and expression. At 38 cm high by 30.5 cm wide, this oil on panel work exemplifies the compact format favored for private homes, where panels offered a durable, smooth surface ideal for detailed brushwork. Created during the Dutch Enlightenment, when prosperity fueled a demand for personal likenesses among merchant families like the Teding van Berkhouts, the painting reflects social aspirations and family legacy. Claudine, depicted likely in her mid-40s, embodies the virtues of domestic grace and status. The modest dimensions and meticulous technique—evident in the panel's precise preparation (depth including support: 2.8 cm)—highlight van der Mij's skill in rendering fabrics and subtle lighting, making it a treasured example of mid-century portraiture now housed at the Rijksmuseum (inv. SK-L-4113). Visitors will appreciate how such works preserve the human stories behind opulent eras, inviting a closer look at the sitter's world through van der Mij's masterful touch.

About the Artist

Hieronymus van der Mij · 1687–1761

A Leyden painter of portraits, genre scenes, and historical subjects. Comment on works: Portraits; History; Interiors