Antique Portrait of Mennonite Minister Jan Nieuwenhuyzen – Etching c.1800
€ 180
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1800
Mapmaker / artist
Ludwig Gottlieb Portman after Adriaan de Lelie, Amsterdam, c. 1800
Technique
Etching
Sheet size
22.8 × 13.6 cm (9.0 × 5.4 in)
Reference
BG-13185-32
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Crisp impression with minor age-toning. Slight edge wear and a few small marks in the lower margin. No tears or repairs, but original fold lines are professionally flattened.
About this sheet
Antique Portrait Jan Nieuwenhuyzen – Etching by Portman after de Lelie, c.1800
This finely executed etching portrays Jan Nieuwenhuyzen (1724–1806), a Dutch Mennonite minister and influential reformer in education and religion. The print was engraved by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman (active 1794–1828) after a portrait by Adriaan de Lelie, one of the Netherlands’ most accomplished 18th-century portrait painters. The portrait likely dates from the early 19th century and commemorates Nieuwenhuyzen’s lasting legacy in both the Baptist movement and Dutch public life.
Jan Nieuwenhuyzen was best known as the founder of the 'Maatschappij tot Nut van 't Algemeen' (“Society for Public Welfare”), established in 1784 in Edam. The society promoted popular education, moral instruction, and social progress, grounded in Enlightenment ideals. As a preacher and public intellectual, Nieuwenhuyzen became a symbol of reasoned faith, civic virtue, and benevolence in the Netherlands during a time of profound cultural transformation.
The portrait shows him in a modest black robe, gazing directly at the viewer with a composed and contemplative expression. Beneath the portrait oval, a symbolic pietra dura cartouche displays emblems of learning and enlightenment: a laurel wreath (for honor and wisdom), a quill and inkwell (for writing and intellectual pursuit), the Bible, a torch (symbolizing reason or truth), and a striking ouroboros—an ancient serpent eating its own tail, symbolizing eternal renewal and unity.
These attributes reinforce Nieuwenhuyzen’s identity as a scholar, moral teacher, and advocate of enlightenment through both scripture and rational thought.
This engraving will appeal to collectors of Dutch Enlightenment portraiture, religious history, or those interested in symbolism and intellectual legacy.
Framing tips: A dark wood frame with a soft cream mat will highlight the fine lines and bring out the symbolic richness of the lower composition.
