Portret van een lid van de familie Van der Mersch

About this artwork

height 72 cm x width 57 cm

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 18th-century Dutch portraiture with *Portret van een van de familie Van derersch* by Cornelis Troost, painted in1736. This intimate oil on panel measures 72 cm high by 57 cm wide, capturing a member of the prosperous Van der Mersch family a bust-length format. Troost, a versatile Amsterdam artist and actor (1696–1750), masterfully used the smooth surface of panel to render fine details in fabrics and flesh tones, evoking the refined domestic life of the Dutch urban elite during the waning Golden Age. Troost's rococo style shines here, blending realism with playful expressiveness influenced by his theatrical background. Unlike the stiff formality of earlier portraits, his works often infuse personality and subtle wit, reflecting the Enlightenment-era shift toward individualism and leisure. This piece exemplifies his skill in conversation pieces and family portraits, which celebrated bourgeois patrons amid Amsterdam's vibrant cultural scene. Housed in the Rijksmuseum, it offers a window into everyday nobility—reminding us how art preserved social status and family legacy in an age of trade and tolerance. A gem for admirers of Dutch mastery! (198 words)

About the Artist

Cornelis Troost · 1696–1750

Comment on works: Portraits; Genre