A formal portrait of Dutch painter Jan Baptist Kobell II, depicted in his official institute uniform while holding a sketch.

This portrait depicts the Dutch painter Jan Baptist Kobell II, a contemporary of the artist Willem Bartel van der Kooi. Painted during the early nineteenth century, the work captures the subject in the formal uniform of the Koninklijk Instituut van Wetenschappen, Letterkunde en Schoone Kunsten. The sitter is positioned in a wooden chair, his gaze directed towards the viewer with a composed expression. He holds a small drawing in his hand, which provides a subtle reference to his profession as an artist. In the background, a partially visible canvas displays a pastoral scene, further identifying his artistic focus.

Van der Kooi employs a restrained palette, focusing on the dark tones of the uniform contrasted against the muted, neutral background. The embroidery on the collar and cuffs of the coat provides a decorative detail, executed with precision. The lighting is soft, modelling the features of the sitter and creating a sense of volume. The composition follows traditional portrait conventions of the period, placing the subject in a professional context that reflects his status within the Dutch artistic community. The brushwork is controlled, typical of the Neoclassical approach to portraiture that prioritised clarity and formal balance over expressive texture. This piece offers a glimpse into the social and professional identity of an artist during the Napoleonic era in the Netherlands, documenting both the individual and the institutional attire of the time.