Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

Johannes Vollevens I
Johannes Vollevens I, Portrait Of A Member Of The Van Vrijberghe Family

c. 1690

$5,954.74
£4,250
€5,091.25
CA$8,122.25
A$9,093.69
CHF 4,768.12
MX$112,358.12
NOK 60,081.24
SEK 56,714.30
DKK 37,986.93
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This splendid late 17th-century three-quarter-length portrait by Dutch artist Johannes Vollevens I (1649-1728) depicts a lady wearing a plush red gown with a low, lace-trimmed neckline, together with a pearl necklace. The coat of arms in the upper left refers to the Van Vrijberghe family. Dressed in the finest, exceedingly well-tailored attire, she’s evidently a lady of considerable means. Her sleeves are embellished with elaborate lace cuffs, and a string of delicate pearls encircles her neck. A piece of sumptuous orange fabric is draped over her shoulder, which is confidently rendered. The lineage of the Van Vrijberghe family dates to the late 15th century and begins with David de Boet who married Cornelia Croesinck, lady of Vrijbergen, circa 1484. Their grandson, Willem Davidse de Boet, acquired the lordship of Vrijbergen in 1550 and adopted the title of De Boet van Vrijberghe. Although our sitter’s identity is not known, the portrait was almost certainly produced at The Hague, where Vollevens spent much of his time - a comparable piece was produced there in 1693. With this in mind, she’s possibly related to Cornelia Van Vrijberghe (1651-1714) who moved from Tholen to The Hague and married Diederik Vleugels (1636-1717) of Brabant, a tax attorney. In the lower left, a water fountain takes the form of a dolphin, albeit a rather unusual one. During the Baroque period, dolphins were often portrayed in this manner - more akin to a mythical sea beast than the endearing aquatic mammal we know today. For an example, see the Fontaine des Quatre-Dauphins at Aix-en-Provence. Born in Geertruidenberg, The Netherlands, Johannes Vollevens possessed inordinate ability as a child, particularly in charcoal drawing. He approached art with such fervour that his parents sent him to study with the eminent portrait and genre painter Caspar Netscher (1639-1684), followed by a spell with Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693) in Dordrecht. Now furnished with the rudiments, his next period of tuition was a longer apprenticeship with the leading Dutch portraitist, Jan de Baen (1633-1702), in The Hague. Here, over a span of eight years, he worked closely with de Baen, becoming an invaluable assistant. Due to the master’s popularity, Vollevens was often tasked with producing copies of de Baen’s works while also painting the drapery in many of his originals. It’s said that the young man’s vigorous spirit was much needed as de Baen was often overloaded with work. It was a relationship that benefited both parties; on one hand, de Baen could meet the demands of his patrons, while on the other, Vollevens was gaining vital experience. In 1672, upon completing his apprenticeship, he was inundated with commissions and soon gained the trust of esteemed dignitaries such as the Count and Countess of Nassau and the Prince of Courlant, who asked him to produce portraits of every officer in his regiment. With his career and security now established, orders continued to materialise - such as those for Colonel Perzival with his officers, the English ambassador Schelten, and for the Prince of Nassau. And following the death of Jan de Baen in 1702, he gained many of his master’s loyal patrons. The word ‘Vollevens’ translates as ‘full of life’, which was the source of much punnery during his lifetime. But indeed, it was his zest and industriousness which set him apart from his peers and contributed to his distinguished reputation. Compared to de Baen, Vollevens’ oeuvre is a touch less flattering, with each sitter portrayed closer to life. As such, his works possess greater diversity and less stylisation. For example, he describes Caspar Fagel (1634-1688) as distinguished and sensitive, whereas François Nicolaas Fagel (1655-1718) conveys pomp and ceremony. In both, there’s a sense of the individual - the spirit behind the facade. His son, Johannes Vollevens II (1685-1759), was court painter to the Princess Dowager of Orange. He’s represented at the Rijksmuseum, the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge University, and the Haags Historisch Museum in The Hague. Signed in the lower left and held in a later gilt frame with elaborate corner ornaments. Learn more about Johannes Vollevens I in our directory. Provenance: Private collection, UK. Artist’s auction maximum: £8,593 for ‘Market Scene With Two Boys by a Vegetable Seller Making Lace (1668)’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, Old Master Pictures, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 14 May 2003 (lot 193).
  • Creator:
    Johannes Vollevens I (1649 - 1728, Dutch)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1690
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 41.5 in (105.41 cm)Width: 34 in (86.36 cm)
  • Medium:
    Canvas,Oil
  • Movement & Style:
    Dutch School
  • Period:
    17th Century
  • Condition:
    Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Minor stretcher imprint. Later stretcher. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
  • Gallery Location:
    Cheltenham, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2328216547942

More From This Seller

View All
Mid-18th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Lady With Sapphires
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This charming mid-18th-century half-length French portrait depicts a lady wearing an olive green gown, together with a red cloak, and exquisite sapphire jewellery. Painted circa 174...
Category

Mid-18th Century Rococo Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mid-18th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Lady With Sapphires

Mid-18th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Lady With Sapphires, c. 1740

$3,076
Jacques François Courtin (Circle), Portrait Of A Lady Taking Snuff
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This exquisite early 18th-century half-length portrait depicts a young lady taking snuff from a silver holder. Stylistically, it’s reminiscent of works by French painter, Jacques Fra...
Category

1720s Rococo Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Jacques François Courtin (Circle), Portrait Of A Lady Taking Snuff

Jacques François Courtin (Circle), Portrait Of A Lady Taking Snuff, c. 1725

$9,807
Late 19th-Century French School, Head Study
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This enchanting late 19th-century French oil painting depicts the head of a bearded man. Rendered with an abundance of consideration and feeling, the introspection of the figure po...
Category

1890s French School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Late 19th-Century French School, Head Study

Late 19th-Century French School, Head Study, c. 1890

$980
Mid-17th-Century Neapolitan School, Saint Jerome In Penitence
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This remarkable mid-17th-century oil painting, which probably originated in the Naples region of Italy, depicts Saint Jerome in penitence with a skull and sleeping lion. It’s reminis...
Category

1640s Italian School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Mid-17th-Century Neapolitan School, Saint Jerome In Penitence

Mid-17th-Century Neapolitan School, Saint Jerome In Penitence, c. 1640

$2,936
Early-18th Century French School, Ex-Voto Portrait With Emilian Jacobin
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This splendid early 18th-century French oil painting represents an ‘ex-voto’ with Emilian Jacobin and a depiction of the Virgin Mary with Christ and angels. Ex votos are votive offe...
Category

1710s French School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Early-18th Century French School, Ex-Voto Portrait With Emilian Jacobin

Early-18th Century French School, Ex-Voto Portrait With Emilian Jacobin, 1712

$6,865
Robert Walker Macbeth RA ROI RWS, Far From The Madding Crowd
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This spellbinding late 19th-century oil painting by Scottish artist Robert Walker Macbeth RA ROI RWS (1848-1910) depicts a young woman wearing...
Category

1880s Victorian Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Robert Walker Macbeth RA ROI RWS, Far From The Madding Crowd

Robert Walker Macbeth RA
Robert Walker Macbeth RA ROI RWS, Far From The Madding Crowd, 1883

$9,807

You May Also Like

Boy with a flute
By Leon Herbo
Located in Gent, VOV
Léon HERBO (1850-1907), Young boy with a flute, oil on canvas, signed upper left and dated 1879. This painting seems inspired by the painting "Singing Boy with a Flute" by the Dutch ...
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Boy with a flute

Leon Herbo
Boy with a flute, 1879

$10,701
After Rembrandt "The Prodigal Son in the Tavern" Old Master Style Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
After Rembrandt "The Prodigal Son in the Tavern" Old Master Style Painting Late 19th century - Early 20th century Oil on Canvas 36.75 x 44.5 unframed 40.5" x 48.5" framed
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

After Rembrandt "The Prodigal Son in the Tavern" Old Master Style Painting

After Rembrandt "The Prodigal Son in the Tavern" Old Master Style Painting, Late 19th century

$9,450
Portrait of a Lady with Jewels Dutch School 18th century Signed with Frame
Located in Pistoia, IT
Portrait of a woman with jewelry, early 18th-century Dutch school by painter Gérard Wigama (1673-1741). Monogram in the lower right corner on the base of the GW column. Fine Arts exp...
Category

Early 18th Century Dutch School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Lady with Jewels Dutch School 18th century Signed with Frame

Gerard Wigmana
Portrait of a Lady with Jewels Dutch School 18th century Signed with Frame, about 1720-30

$10,140
Dutch Girl Contemporary Portrait of a Child
By Kiki Lamers
Located in Brookville, NY
Woman artist Kiki Lamers portrait of a Young Girl is Signed and dated with title on the reverse the painting "Dutch Girl" by Kiki Lamers is framed in a silv...
Category

1990s Dutch School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Dutch Girl Contemporary Portrait of a Child

Kiki Lamers
Dutch Girl Contemporary Portrait of a Child, 1999

$6,500
Knitting woman by Anne Marie Mulder - Oil on canvas 30x40 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on canvas sold with frame Total size with frame 48x58 cm Anne Marie Mulder was born in 1921. After secondary school she trained at the national Academy of Visual Art in Amsterd...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Knitting woman by Anne Marie Mulder - Oil on canvas 30x40 cm

Anne Marie Mulder
Knitting woman by Anne Marie Mulder - Oil on canvas 30x40 cm

$1,520 Sale Price
20% Off
Bearded man with pipe and hat
Located in Genève, GE
Work on wood Carved wooden frame 41 x 36.5 x 7 cm
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Bearded man with pipe and hat

A. Wagner
Bearded man with pipe and hat

$1,252