The painting that made Jacob de Wit famous is The Epic Poem (1743); it hangs in the Mauritshuis, The Hague. Holy Family and Trinity (1726) and Allegory on shipping (1732) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 127 works by Jacob de Wit in our catalogue, these 100 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated October 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.
A Symphony of Myth and Technique: Jacob de Wit’s “The Epic Poem” This magnificent ceiling painting, originating from a residence in Leiden (Rapenburg 48) since 1912, stands as a testament to the artistic prowess of the Dutch Baroque era. More than just decoration—it's an immersive experience—a carefully orchestrated illusion crafted by Jacob de Wit himself, arguably the foremost expert in this genre during his time. Its enduring presence within the…
In this 1726 oil painting, the Holy Family is situated within a tranquil landscape. Mary sits on the left, her form draped in a red robe, cradling the infant Jesus upon her lap. The child is dressed in a blue garment that provides a point of color against the surrounding earth tones. To the right, Joseph stands with a hand placed on the child's shoulder, wearing a brown cloak. Above…
The painting presents a central female figure seated within a vessel or chariot, positioned amidst a swirling arrangement of clouds and smaller figures known as putti. The composition follows a diagonal upward motion, driven by the fluid lines of the drapery and the limbs of the figures. A strong, directional light source illuminates the woman's torso and face, creating a sharp contrast against the deep, atmospheric shadows that occupy the…
The autumn presented by three putti playing with vines, a drinking bowl and a Bacchustaf. Part of a series of the four seasons from 1740 (SK-A-3231/3233).
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The ceiling opens like a window into a pale, airy sky. Apollo, the god of the arts, occupies the oval centrepiece, suspended amidst a landscape of soft clouds.…
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The painting titled Allegory, Minerva with Three Putti is an oil on canvas work created by the artist Jacob de Wit. This specific object is categorized as a…
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A dramatic diagonal movement defines this Baroque oil painting, guiding the eye from the celestial realm in the upper right toward the earthly presence of the Virgin Mary…
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To gaze upon this magnificent depiction, the Allegory of the Arts, is to step directly into a realm where creativity takes tangible form. This painting is not merely…
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In this evocative portrait by the Dutch master Jacob de Wit, we are invited into the profound presence of one of history's most luminous minds. The painting captures…
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Winter season. Three putti warm themselves in a fire basin. Part of a series of the four seasons from 1740 (SK-A-3231/3233).
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In a landscape at the foot of a tree, the shepherd Paris bends over the shepherd Oenone. On the left a putto as a shepherd by the sheep,…
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Cloud air with putti that wear frames for mirrors or paintings. One putto is drawing, another has a palette and brushes in hand.
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Summer, represented by three putti playing with a sickle, corn halves and harvested fruit. Part of a series of the four seasons from 1740 (SK-A-3231/3233). Possibly a dessus-de-porte.
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The autumn season. Four putti on both sides of a vase with grapes and vines. On the left a putto with a bowl with a wine bag, another…
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Chimney with a representation of Baptism of the Chamberlain (Acts 8:36-40). Part of the Beuning Room.
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The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Jacob de Wit | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Amsterdam Museum |
Amsterdam | 17 | Ambrose, Church Father, Pope Gregory the Great, Church Father, Augustine, Church Father |
 Rijksmuseum |
Amsterdam | 14 | Allegory on shipping, Design for a ceiling piece with Aeneas and the four seasons in the corners, Apollo in the clouds with Minerva and the nine muses |
 Museum Catharijneconvent |
Utrecht | 9 | Moses and the tables of the law, Aaron, Crucified Christ |
 Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen |
Rotterdam | 9 | Allegorical Figure: Water, Allegorical Figure: Air, Allegorical Figure: Fire |
 Mauritshuis |
The Hague | 5 | The Epic Poem, The Pastoral Song, The Elegy |
 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York | 4 | Allegory of Government: Wisdom Defeating Discord, Allegory of the Arts |
 Staatliche Museen |
Kassel | 4 | Allegory of the Four Seasons - Autumn, Allegory of the Four Seasons - Spring |
 Amstelkring Museum |
Amsterdam | 3 | Holy Family and Trinity, Adoration of the Shepherds (detail) |
In this 1726 oil painting, the Holy Family is situated within a tranquil landscape. Mary sits on the left, her form draped in a red robe, cradling the…
The painting presents a central female figure seated within a vessel or chariot, positioned amidst a swirling arrangement of clouds and smaller figures known as putti. The composition…
A Symphony of Myth and Technique: Jacob de Wit’s “The Epic Poem” This magnificent ceiling painting, originating from a residence in Leiden (Rapenburg 48) since 1912, stands as…
The Epic Poem (1743), Mauritshuis, The Hague. Next come Holy Family and Trinity (1726) and Allegory on shipping (1732).
48 years old: The Epic Poem dates from 1743 and Jacob de Wit was born in 1695.
The Epic Poem, Holy Family and Trinity, Allegory on shipping, Moses and the tables of the law, Aaron, Crucified Christ, the music, Venus, Bacchus and Ceres with the sleeping Amor, Design for a ceiling piece with Aeneas and the four seasons in the corners and Ambrose, Church Father. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.
Our catalogue lists 127 works by Jacob de Wit, dated from 1710 to 1754.
Most of them are in Amsterdam Museum (Amsterdam), Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam) and Museum Catharijneconvent (Utrecht). The table above lists the museums one by one.
In 1750s: 40 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them The resurrection of Christ.
The earliest on this page is Moses and the tables of the law (1710), the latest Allegory on the Writing of History (1754).
Mythology (3), Allegory (3) and Woman (3), among the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas: 5 of the 100 works on this page.
Baroque and Rococo, as the paintings on this page show.
Ambrose, Church Father, Pope Gregory the Great, Church Father and Augustine, Church Father are among the 17 works on this page held by the Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.
In the golden age of Dutch Rococo, few names evoke the architectural splendor of the eighteenth century quite like Jacob de Wit. Born in Amsterdam in 1695, De Wit emerged not merely as a painter, but as a visionary decorator who transformed the very bones of historic buildings. His journey began under the rigorous tutelage of masters such as Albert van Spiers and Jacob van Hal, mentors who provided him with a sturdy foundation in Baroque principles. However, it was his ability to infuse these classical structures with the light, airy, and whimsical essence of the Rococo style that would eventually define his legacy. By 1714, his admission into the prestigious St. Luke's Guild in Amsterdam signaled the arrival of a formidable talent destined to shape the interiors of the Dutch elite.
De Wit’s artistic evolution was profoundly shaped by his pilgrimage to Antwerp. It was here that he encountered the monumental legacy of Peter Paul Rubens, specifically within the breathtaking ceilings of the Carolus Borromeuskerk. This encounter was transformative; rather than merely observing, De Wit meticulously documented these masterpieces through a series of watercolors. This endeavor, later published in 1751, did more than showcase his technical precision—it established him as a vital custodian of artistic heritage, bridging the gap between the heavy grandeur of the Flemish Baroque and the delicate elegance of his own era.
What truly distinguishes De Wit from his contemporaries is his unparalleled mastery of grisaille. While many Rococo artists sought to dazzle the eye with a riot of pastel pigments, De Wit found profound expression in the subtle manipulation of monochrome. By working within a restricted palette of greys and muted tones, he mastered the art of tonal gradation, creating illusions of depth and sculptural form that seemed to breathe within their architectural settings. This technique allowed his ceiling paintings and door panels to integrate seamlessly with stone and plaster, lending an ethereal, almost ghostly quality to his compositions.
His ability to command light and shadow turned flat surfaces into windows of spiritual and narrative depth. Whether depicting the seasonal cycles in works like Autumn and Spring and Summer, or portraying sacred moments such as Saint Philip Baptizes the Eunuch, De Wit utilized light to guide the viewer's emotion. His work possessed a unique architectural rhythm, where every brushstroke served to enhance the structural grandeur of the rooms he adorned, making him the preeminent interior artist of his generation.
The influence of Jacob de Wit extended far beyond his own brush, as he cultivated a school of artists who would carry his stylistic vision into the next generation. His studio became a crucible of talent, producing notable pupils including:
Through these disciples, the delicate balance of De Wit’s technique—the marriage of Baroque weight with Rococo grace—was preserved. Today, his works remain as enduring testaments to a period of immense decorative opulence. To walk through the historic halls of Amsterdam or Haarlem is to encounter the ghost of De Wit’s genius, where his monochrome masterpieces continue to dance with the light, reminding us of a time when painting was an inseparable part of the very air we breathe within a room.