Jan Antonides van der Linden

Jan Antonides van der Linden is a late print created by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn in 1665. Executed on paper, this work is classified as a posthumous portrait of the noted physician, bibliographer, and botanist (1609-1664), known primarily for his tenure at Leiden University. This piece showcases Rijn's enduring commitment to commissioned portraiture even near the end of his career, providing an essential visual record of a major figure in the history of Dutch science.

While Rijn focused less on ambitious narrative scenes in the 1660s, his skill in producing intimate and psychologically penetrating portraits remained unparalleled. Many of the finest surviving examples of his prints, such as this likeness, capture the quiet dignity of their subjects using precise line work and varied hatching to define texture and shadow. Though produced after the subject’s death, the powerful depiction of Van der Linden provides an important document for 17th-century Dutch intellectual history, and the subject would have been instantly recognizable to contemporary scholars and patrons who circulated such images widely.

This historic artwork is an important part of the vast collection housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it serves as a key example of the artistic output of the Dutch Golden Age. Due to its age and cultural significance, this work is generally considered to be in the public domain, allowing broader access for researchers and art enthusiasts studying Rijn’s masterful handling of the graphic arts. The subtle detail and characteristic gravity of the sitter confirm its status as one of the significant commissioned prints of the era.