Double Portrait of Frederik Hendrik (1584- 1647) and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (1602- 1675)
Artist: Gerrit van Honthorst (Dutch, 1592-1656)
Date: c. 1637-1638
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands
Description
This portrait of Stadholder Frederik Hendrik and Amalia of Solms was painted by their court painter, Gerrit van Honthorst. It is clearly an official state portrait: the couple are depicted in all their finery, life-size and full length. It was made to mark Frederik Hendrik’s recapture of Breda in 1637.
Frederick Henry (Dutch: Frederik Hendrik; 29 January 1584 – 14 March 1647) was the sovereign prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from his older half-brother's death on 23 April 1625 until his death on 14 March 1647. In the last seven years of his life, he was also the stadtholder of Groningen (1640-1647).
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (31 August 1602 – 8 September 1675) was Princess of Orange by marriage to Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. She acted as the political adviser of her spouse during his reign, and acted as his de facto deputy and regent during his infirmity from 1640 to 1647. She also served as chair of the regency council during the minority of her grandson William III, Prince of Orange from 1650 until 1672.
