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PIENEMAN, Jan Willem - b. 1779 Abcoude, d. 1853 Amsterdam - WGA

PIENEMAN, Jan Willem

(b. 1779 Abcoude, d. 1853 Amsterdam)

Dutch painter, teacher, engraver and museum director. He trained with a wallpaper painter in Amsterdam, and at the same time he followed courses at the Amsterdam Stadstekenacademie, where he soon distinguished himself. His artistic and didactic gifts were recognized by the Napoleonic government, which in 1805 appointed him professor of drawing at the artillery and engineering school in Amersfoort. In 1816 he was appointed assistant director of the Mauritshuis at The Hague by William I. He frequently spent time at the Dutch court, where he gave painting lessons to Queen Wilhelmina and painted many portraits of members of the royal family. He also produced a few engravings.

The Triumvirate Assuming Power on behalf of the Prince of Orange, 21 November 1813
The Triumvirate Assuming Power on behalf of the Prince of Orange, 21 November 1813 by

The Triumvirate Assuming Power on behalf of the Prince of Orange, 21 November 1813

In 1813 the period of French rule came to an end, and the Netherlands recovered its independence. It was decided that the Northern and Southern Netherlands should be amalgamated into a single kingdom, as a buffer against France, with the Prince of Orange as King William I.

In order to assume the power relinquished by the French in 1813, a three-man provisional government was formed on behalf of the Prince of Orange under Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp, who is shown sitting at the table. Standing next to him is the military governor of The Hague, Count van Limburg Stirum. The third member of the triumvirate, A.FJ.A. van der Duyn van Maasdam, was not actually present on that occasion, but Pieneman included him anyway: he is shown standing behind Van Hogendorp.

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