(The Hague c. 1614–1670)
Portrait of Cornelis Tromp(1629–1691), three quarter length, in armour, a naval battle beyond,
oil on canvas, 113 x 91 cm, framed

Provanance:
European private collection

We are grateful to Sabine Craft-Giepmans of the RKD, The Hague for suggesting the attribution on the basis of a high resolution digital photograph.

The present painting depicts the celebrated Dutch Admiral Cornelis Maartensz. Tromp (1629-1691) and is comparable to similar portraits by Jan Mijtens of the same sitter (see A. Bauer, Jan Mijtens (1613/14–1670). Leben und Werk, p. 361, no. A 9, p. 367, no. A 22 and p. 400, no. A 105).

The son of legendary Dutch Admiral Maarten Harpertsz. Tromp, Cornelis followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an admiral and a naval hero of the Anglo-Dutch wars. Tromp was a fearless man, seeking out personal battles rather than following the line-of-battle of his superior Michiel Adriaensz. de Ruyter. Tromp's high self-esteem led to numerous portrait commissions from the leading portraitists of his time, including Ferdinand Bol, Peter Lely and Jan Mijtens, which were displayed in his warship-shaped manor house ‘Trompenburgh’ in 's Graveland, The Netherlands.

Throughout his life Jan Mijtens worked as a portrait painter in The Hague. He received commissions from prominent citizens, members of the nobility and senior government officials as well as from the stadholder’s circle. He seems to have worked chiefly for those loyal to the Orange Nassau family and to have been considerably less popular with the opposing political factions. Jan Mijtens’ oeuvre consists of an extensive series of portraits, the earliest from 1638, the year he entered the painters’ guild, and the latest from 1668. Although his paintings are reminiscent of the late works of Anthony van Dyck, Jan Mijtens cannot be considered an immediate follower of the master, since technically he adhered to the Dutch tradition of portrait painting.