Mayor Johan Geertsema (1738, 1739, 1743, 1746, 1747)
W.D. Raad
About this artwork.
Johan Geertsema (1693 - 1758) grew up in Groningen and was one of the four mayors who knew Groningen at that time. In 1748 Orange supporters celebrated the birth of William V by storming and looting the house of the anti-princely mayor Geertsema. Shortly afterwards he was removed from all office because of his attitude. In 1753, however, his honor restored.
The mayor's portrait was painted in the second half of the eighteenth century by W.D. Raad. The portrait was donated to the municipality in 1915 by Carel Coenraad Geertsema, then the Queen's Commissioner in the province of Groningen. Bottom right of the painting reads: So sketch one Geertsema / In lively paints / To the remembrance of the common / And later posterity / Dog's deserved name / And virtue will never die / So long the country's prosperity remains / Humanity remains deemed.
Facts & Figures.
-
Artist(s)
W.D. Raad -
Year of creation
Unknown -
Dimensions (in cm)
94x87 -
Collection
Town Hall Collection -
Technic
Oil paint on canvas