Mayor Rudolf Emmen (1719-1727)

About this artwork.

Rudolf Emmen (1663 - 1727) studied literature at the University of Groningen (1679), was administrator of the West India Company in Groningen, city steward of Groningen, councilor and curator of the University of Groningen on behalf of the city council in 1718 and 1719. From 1719 Emmen was one of the four mayors that Groningen knew at that time. He held this office until his death in 1727.

The mayor's portrait was painted by painter Jan Abel Wassenbergh (1689 - 1750). Wassenbergh was a painter from Groningen in the eighteenth century. Wassenbergh first studied law, but because he prefers drawing and painting, university was not suitable for him. The young Wassenbergh took drawing lessons and traveled to Rotterdam in 1712 to be apprenticed to the famous Rotterdam painter Adriaan van der Werff. In 1715 he returned to Groningen and became successful as a portraitist, history painter and room decorator (making ceilings, mantelpieces and doorway decorations for the nobility of the city).

Wassenbergh mainly painted history paintings - depictions of scenes from the Bible, mythology, literature or history - and portraits. The surviving works show that Wassenbergh was an important painter in his time. He painted both history paintings and portraits for the Groningen elite, including members of the Hora Siccama, Gockinga and Trip families. Many may know the name Wassenbergh from the Wassenberghstraat in the ‘Painters district’ named after him.

Facts & Figures.

• Artist(s)
  Jan Abel Wassenbergh

• Year of creation
  1727

• Dimensions (in cm)
  102x86

• Collection
  Town Hall Collection

• Technic
  Oil paint on canvas