Maria Henriëtte van de Pol (1707-87). Echtgenote van Willem Sautijn

About this artwork

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Art Historical Context

This elegant oil-on-canvas portrait by Frans van der Mijn depicts Maria Henriëtte van de Pol (1707–1787), identified as the wife of Willem Sautijn. Painted between 1750 and 1760, the work captures the refined appearance of an 18th-century Dutch woman of means. Van der Mijn, a specialist in portraiture, renders her with careful attention to costume and expression, reflecting the social customs of the period when such images served to affirm family status and marital alliances. Measuring 82 by 65 centimeters, the modest scale suggests it was intended for private display rather than grand public settings. The medium of oil on canvas allowed the artist to achieve subtle gradations of light and texture, particularly in the fabrics and skin tones typical of Dutch portrait traditions that continued well into the 1700s. Now in the Rijksmuseum collection, the painting offers visitors a glimpse into the personal world of Amsterdam’s merchant elite during the Dutch Republic’s later years. It stands as a quiet testament to the enduring importance of portraiture in preserving individual and familial identity across generations.