Dr Cornelis Hendrik à Roy (1751-1833), Physician and Biographer 1833

This is a portrait of Dr Cornelis Hendrik à Roy, Physician and Biographer, painted by Jan Adam Kruseman sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the artist has meticulously captured the likeness of his subject. The layering of the paint creates subtle textures, from the soft rendering of skin to the crisp edges of the book. Oil paint allowed for revisions, subtle blending, and a careful build-up of details, demonstrating the artist's command of this slow, deliberate process. Note the symbolic elements: the book, the column, the medal. These were carefully planned and produced, and serve to imbue the sitter with status. The painting, itself a material object, speaks to the rising merchant classes. It’s easy to overlook the sheer amount of labor that went into a painting like this, from preparing the canvas and mixing the paints, to the many hours required for its completion. Looking closely at the materials and processes used by Kruseman encourages us to move beyond conventional art history.