Portrait of Jan Lepeltak, Timber Merchant in Amsterdam, Regent of the Aalmoezeniersweeshuis Orphanage 1728 - 1729

Cornelis Troost painted this portrait of Jan Lepeltak, a timber merchant and regent, with oil on canvas. Lepeltak’s assured stance, hand on hip, is a timeless display of authority, echoed through history. This pose, associated with classical sculpture, was used to denote power and confidence. Recall the Doryphoros of Polykleitos, the embodiment of ideal proportions, who similarly stands with a relaxed contrapposto, his weight shifted to one leg, mirroring Lepeltak's nonchalant poise. Yet, the meaning shifts through time. Lepeltak’s wig and the opulent chair act as symbols of 18th-century Dutch affluence. These are not just material possessions; they are outward signs of inner worth and social standing, emblems worn on the surface of the portrait, suggesting a man anchored in his community, bearing the weight of responsibility with grace. The gesture speaks to our collective memory, reappearing in different contexts, each time imbued with new, nuanced meanings.