Johan Melchior Kemper (1776-1824), Jurist and Statesman by David-Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville

Johan Melchior Kemper (1776-1824), Jurist and Statesman 1815

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painting

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portrait

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neoclacissism

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painting

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history-painting

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academic-art

Dimensions: height 38 cm, width 28.9 cm, thickness 1.0 cm, depth 7.3 cm

Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain

David-Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville painted this portrait of Johan Melchior Kemper, a Jurist and Statesman, in oil on panel. Looking at this image, we see the subject in almost full-length, situated in front of a table and set against a wall that is decorated with familial crests and portrait medallions. The work was created in the Netherlands, and although we don't have an exact date, we can assume it was done around the early 19th century. At this time, the Netherlands was undergoing significant political changes, transitioning from the Batavian Republic to the Kingdom of Holland, and then incorporation into the French Empire, before finally becoming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Kemper’s status as a jurist and statesman likely placed him in the center of this institutional change. The artist emphasizes Kemper’s position in the new Dutch state through his choice of symbols. The lion crest makes reference to Dutch sovereignty. The book on the table could be referencing the constitution. And the medal on Kemper’s chest refers to his membership of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. To better understand this painting, scholars would seek out archival documents, political histories, and biographical material, as well as examine the artistic conventions of portraiture in the Netherlands during this period.

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