# Maurits Huygens, Secretary of the Council of State [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [REMBRANDT Harmenszoon van Rijn]() - Date: 1601-1650 - Technique: Oil on panel, 31 x 25 cm ## Commentary <a href="\#" onClick="w=window.open \('/database/glossary/note03.html', 'newWin', 'scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=300,height=400'\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return false">Catalogue number:</a> Bredius 161. The portrait Maurits Huygens \(1595-1642\) was painted as a near-companion piece to one of the painter Jacob de Gheyn III. Maurits was the brother of Constantijn Huygens, while Jacob de Gheyn was a childhood friend of Constantijn with whom he traveled to England in 1618 on an art pilgrimage. The sitters of the companion-pieces performed a rare sentimental gesture in 1632. They both had their portrait painted by Rembrandt in two panels of the same smallish size. Apparently they agreed that each would keep his own portrait and that the first to die would leave it to the other. The portraits were reunited in 1641 after the death of de Gheyn, who was outlived by his friend for only half a year. ## Related artworks - [A black drummer and commander mounted on mules; riding in profile]() - [A child being taught to walk]() - [A cottage beneath trees]() - [A girl sleeping]() - [A Man Laughing]() - [A man making water]() - [A Peddler Selling Spectacles \(The Allegory of Sight\)]() - [A Polish Nobleman]() - [A Scholar]() - [A two-humped camel]() - [A woman in Zeeland costume, from the back]() - [A woman in Zeeland costume, from the front]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()