Portrait of Paulus Cornelisz van Beresteyn (1548-1625) after 1617

Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt painted this portrait of Paulus Cornelisz van Beresteyn, likely in the early 17th century, with oil on a wood panel. Looking at the fashions, it seems that van Beresteyn was a wealthy and influential man in the Netherlands. During this time, the Dutch Republic was establishing itself as a major economic and artistic power. Portraits like these reinforced the status of the sitter and the values of the rising merchant class. Mierevelt himself was a prolific portraitist, catering to the elite. The Rijksmuseum, where this painting is housed, was established in the late 19th century to showcase Dutch art and history. Its collection and displays reflect a particular narrative about national identity. To understand this work more deeply, we can consult archival records, genealogical information, and studies of Dutch art and social history. Art like this is not just a likeness, but a product of complex social and institutional forces.