Gedicht op het portret van Dirk Langendijk geschilderd door Johan Bernard Scheffer after 1805

This handwritten poem on paper was created by Gerard van Nijmegen in 1802. It’s a verse dedicated to a portrait of Dirk Langendijk, painted by Johan Bernard Scheffer in the same year. Looking closely, we can see that it's more than just a tribute. The poem hints at the social standing of Langendijk, referring to him as esteemed in accountancy and praising the thoughtful depiction captured by Scheffer. This speaks to the values of the time in the Netherlands, where financial acumen and intellectual pursuits were highly regarded. The Rijksmuseum, as an institution, plays a vital role here; it frames this personal tribute within a broader cultural narrative. To fully appreciate this piece, we might delve into the archives of the Scheffer family or study the history of Dutch portraiture and poetry. The poem's existence outside of the portrait to which it refers invites us to consider how art creates meaning beyond its immediate context.