Rijksmuseum Identifies Key Figures in Frans Hals Portraits, Unveiling Amsterdam's Past
Researchers at the Rijksmuseum have recently announced the true identities of a couple depicted in two significant Frans Hals portraits. The paintings, previously misidentified, now reveal Jan van de Poll, a prominent 17th-century Amsterdam mayor, and his wife, Duifje van Gerwen. This discovery marks the only known pair of marital pendant portraits of an Amsterdam couple painted by the celebrated Haarlem master, Frans Hals.
A Window into 17th-Century Amsterdam Leadership
Jan van de Poll (1597-1678) held a significant position in Amsterdam, serving as mayor seven times and achieving the rank of colonel in the city's citizen militia by 1650. His wife, Duifje van Gerwen (1618-1658), came from a wealthy Amsterdam family of wine merchants. The couple married in 1637, around the same time they are believed to have traveled to Haarlem to sit for Hals. This journey was notable, as Hals often required patrons to come to him, even for large civic commissions like the 'Meagre Company'. The choice of Hals may have been influenced by Duifje's uncle, Willem Warmond, who had previously been painted by the artist.
The Discovery Process and Historical Correction
For many years, the portraits were mistakenly attributed to Nicolaes Hasselaer and Sara Wolphaerts van Diemen after entering the Rijksmuseum's collection through a bequest in 1885. However, recent research led by Rijksmuseum curator Jonathan Bikker has disproved this earlier identification. Through careful examination of historical wills from the Van Diemen family and comparative analysis with other confirmed portraits of Jan van de Poll, Bikker was able to establish the correct identities. The striking resemblance between the Hals portrait and later depictions of Jan van de Poll by artists like Johann Spilberg and Bartholomeus van der Helst was a key factor in the re-identification. Both Jan and Duifje van de Poll are direct ancestors of Jonkheer Jan Stanislaus Robert van de Poll, who originally gifted the paintings to the museum.
See the Portraits at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
Visitors have a limited opportunity to view these newly identified portraits. They are currently on display at the Rijksmuseum as part of the major Frans Hals survey exhibition. The exhibition runs until Sunday, 9 June, after which the portraits will travel to Berlin's Gemäldegalerie for an exhibition on Frans Hals and his contemporaries.
This re-identification adds another layer of intrigue to Dutch Golden Age art, offering a fresh perspective on a prominent Amsterdam couple and the artistic practices of Frans Hals. To discover more about the city's rich history and cultural institutions, you can browse more Amsterdam museums or explore current exhibitions on Musemap (musemap.art).
