A detailed portrait of the Dutch jurist and poet Theodoor van Snakenburg, captured in his study by Hieronymus van der Mij.

This portrait by Hieronymus van der Mij depicts Theodoor van Snakenburg, a jurist and poet active in Leiden during the early eighteenth century. The subject is shown in a private study, a setting that communicates his intellectual pursuits. He wears a banyan, or dressing gown, which was a common garment for scholars of the period, paired with a formal periwig. His posture, with one hand resting on an open volume and the other raised to his face, suggests a moment of contemplation or pause during his work.

The composition is structured around the desk, which holds an inkstand, a quill, and several books. A large bookcase fills the background, reinforcing the scholarly theme. Van der Mij employs a controlled palette, focusing on the soft pink tones of the subject's gown against the darker, muted surroundings of the library. The light enters from the left, illuminating the subject and the pages of the book, while leaving the corners of the room in shadow. This use of light directs the viewer's attention to the sitter's expression and his engagement with the text.

Van der Mij was a student of Willem van Mieris, and this influence is visible in the precise handling of the textures, from the fabric of the gown to the leather bindings of the books. The painting reflects the conventions of Dutch portraiture from the period, where the inclusion of specific objects served to identify the sitter's profession and social standing. The work provides a glimpse into the domestic environment of a Leiden academic, capturing a quiet, studious atmosphere through careful observation and technical skill.