West India Company Collection

West India Companys Garden, c. 1936. Creator: Helen Miller
West India Companys Garden, c. 1936

Portrait of Machteld Muilman, c. 1745-7 (oil on canvas)
1765824 Portrait of Machteld Muilman, c.1745-7 (oil on canvas) by Mijn, Frans van der (1719-93); 210A--154.5 cm; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Don Miguel de Castro, Emissary of Kongo, c. 1643 (oil on panel)
5675864 Don Miguel de Castro, Emissary of Kongo, c.1643 (oil on panel) by Becx, Jasper (c.1600-47); 72x62 cm; Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Woman in Surinam, 1860 (watercolour)
5916351 Woman in Surinam, 1860 (watercolour) by Dutch School, (19th century); 17x26 cm; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (add.info)

Map of the Isle of Dogs, c. 1830 (engraving) (see also 87298)
GHL70176 Map of the Isle of Dogs, c.1830 (engraving) (see also 87298) by English School, (19th century); London Metropolitan Archives, City of London; eLondon Metropolitan Archives; English

Poplar Dock, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
Poplar Dock, 1872. Poplar Dock on the Isle of Dogs, originally a series of reservoirs built by the West India Company, in 1828 was converted to a railway dock used mainly to import coal from

Brandenburg West India Comp, 1838. From A Display of the Naval Flags of All Nations. Collected from the Best Authorities. [Fisher, Son, & Co. London, 1838]

Dutch West India Company warehouse in New Amsterdam
First warehouse of the Dutch West India Company, New Amsterdam, 1600s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Abraham de Visscher 1605-67 Amsterdam merchant
Abraham de Visscher (1605-67). Amsterdam merchant and director of the Dutch West India Company, Portrait of Abraham de Visscher (1605-67)

Interior Lace-Worker Visitor man reads bent small book
Interior with Lace-Worker and a Visitor, Interior in which a man reads bent over from a small book. He is leaning on a table at which a young woman was busy bobbin lace

birdwatchers Genre Scene Elegant Young Couples
The birdwatchers Genre Scene with Elegant Young Couples in a Landscape, maps of separate countries or regions, Chile, Johan Maurits count of Nassau-Siegen, West India Company

Portrait Thomas Ernsthuys director general West India Company
Portrait of Thomas Ernsthuys, director general of the West India Company, on the occasion of his death. He has a staff in the right hand

Portrait Jan van Beuningen writer merchant banker Jan van Beuningen
Portrait of Jan van Beuningen, Portrait of the writer, merchant and banker Jan van Beuningen. He was also governor of Curacao. He wears a wig and around the neck a chain with a medallion

COUNTRY STORE, 1847. Store selling West Indian goods in Worcester, Massachusetts. Lithograph, American, 1847

WEST INDIAN DOCK, c1880. View of Londons West India Dock. Lithograph, c1880

SECOND PASKAERT MAP, 1621. This map was first issued shortly after the incorporation, in 1621, of the Dutch West India Company, whose possessions it portrayed

COUNTRY STORE, 1847. Store selling West India goods in Worcester, Massachusetts. Lithograph, American, 1847

MANHATTAN PURCHASE, 1626. Letter from Pieter Schaghen, board member of the Dutch West India Company, to the States General in 1626

COLONIAL DOCUMENTS, 1630. The first charter published by the West India Company of Amsterdam in 1630 for settlers in New Netherland

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The West India Company: A Glimpse into Colonial Power and Exploitation Step back in time and explore the captivating world of the West India Company through a collection of remarkable artworks. From servants in livery to grand portraits, from dioramas to landscapes, each piece tells a unique story about this influential colonial enterprise. In 1621, the West India House was established in Amsterdam as the headquarters of this powerful trading company. An etching from 1623-26 depicts its imposing structure, symbolizing the immense wealth and influence it commanded. One portrait that catches our eye is that of Thomas Ernsthuys, created between 1684-90. This engraving showcases his dignified presence, reflecting his role as an important figure within the company's hierarchy. As we delve deeper into these historical artifacts, we encounter Margaretha van Raephorst's oil painting from 1668. The canvas portrays her with elegance and opulence—a testament to how fortunes were amassed through exploitative practices during this era. Moving beyond Europe, a diorama takes us on a visual journey to Suriname's Zeezigt coffee and cotton plantation around 1815-21. Crafted meticulously with wood and painted paper, it provides insight into the labor-intensive operations that fueled profits for the company. A watercolor painting by an unknown artist captures Paramaribo city and Fort Zeelandia in 1772. It offers glimpses of urban development under Dutch rule while also hinting at tensions arising from colonization. Another striking artwork is Jacobus Elisa Johannes Capitein's etching dating back to approximately 1742. As one of few African-born individuals who rose through society ranks during this period, Capitein challenges preconceived notions about race within colonial structures. Landscape paintings transport us across continents; one such example is "Landscape in Brazil" from 1652.