Portret van Maurits (1567-1625), prins van Oranje

About this artwork

lijst: hoogte 15,5 cm x breedte 12,5 cm (drager incl. lijst en oog)

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of Maurits (1567-1625), Prince of Orange** *by Jacob Lyon, after c. 1612, oil on copper, .5 × 8.5 cm, RijksmuseumThis intimate portrait captures Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange, a pivotal in Dutch history as stadtholder of the United Provinces during the Eighty Years' War against Spanish rule. Painted after around 1612 by Jacob, a lesser-known Dutch artist active in the early 17th century, it the prince likely in his later years, embodying the leadership that helped secure Dutch independence. At just 11.5 by 8.5 cm, this miniature was ideal for personal collections, perhaps worn as jewelry or kept in a private cabinet, reflecting the era's fascination with portable, precious likenesses of national heroes. The choice of oil on copper as a support is particularly noteworthy. Copper panels, popular in Northern European portraiture from the Renaissance onward, provided a smooth, durable surface for Lyon's fine brushwork, allowing exquisite detail in armor, lace, and facial features despite the tiny scale. Framed to 15.5 × 12.5 cm (including the hanging eye), it evokes the opulence of the Dutch Golden Age, when such works celebrated the rising Republic's triumphs. Maurits's stern gaze reminds us of his military genius at battles like Nieuwpoort (1600), making this a window into the cultural reverence for the "Father of the Fatherland."

About the Artist

Jacob Lyon · 1577–1677

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