Portrait of Wilhelmina Maria Haack (1786-1857), fourth Wife of Gerrit Verdooren

About this artwork

buitenmaat: diepte 8,4 cm (drager incl. SK-L-1412)

Art Historical Context

This refined portrait captures Wilhelmina Maria Ha (1786–1857), the fourth wife ofit Verdooren, by Dutch artist Adriaan de Lelie between 1814 and1820. Measuring 72.5 × 58.5 cm (with a frame depth of 8.4 cm), this oil on canvas work is a quintessential example of early 19th-century portrait, sized modestly for a private domestic setting rather than grand public display. Adria de Lelie (1755–1820), a figure in Amsterdam's art scene, specialized in elegant portraits and genre scenes influenced by Neoclassicism. His technique—layered oils for luminous skin tones, intricate lace details, and poised expressions—conveyed the sitter's social status and personal dignity. Created amid the Netherlands' transition from Napoleonic rule to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815), the painting reflects the era's bourgeois refinement, where such commissions immortalized merchant and regent families. Housed in the Rijksmuseum, this piece offers a glimpse into Dutch Golden Age afterglow, preserving Wilhelmina’s likeness amid shifting political fortunes. A testament to Lelie's skill, it invites viewers to ponder the intimate stories behind formal facades.

About the Artist

Adriaan de Lelie

Comment on works: Portraits, genre