Portrait of Jan Hendrik van Heemskerck, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Lord of Achttienhoven, Den Bosch and Eyndschoten, Captain of the Citizenry of Amsterdam (Johan Hendrik Graaf Van Heemskerk) 1710 - 1730

Jan Maurits Quinkhard painted this oil on canvas portrait of Jan Hendrik van Heemskerck in the Netherlands, sometime in the mid-18th century. Portraits such as this were central to the construction of social status in the Dutch Golden Age. Jan Hendrik’s confident pose and luxurious clothing speak to his power as Captain of the Citizenry of Amsterdam, while his elaborate wig references the fashion of the French court. Amsterdam was a hub of global trade, and the mercantile elite wanted to be seen as members of a sophisticated international culture. These symbols would have been easily legible to viewers at the time. Studying Dutch history, costume, and the politics of Amsterdam’s civic institutions can give us a better sense of how the painting created meaning for its original audience. Art is never made in a vacuum, and understanding its historical context is the key to unlocking its significance.