Isaac de l'Ostal de Saint-Martin (c 1629-96), Councillor of the Dutch East Indies and Commander of the Garrison at Batavia

1650 - 1702

Medium

canvas

Dimensions

132 × 102 cm

Status

In Museum Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-110692

Isaac de l'Ostal de Saint-Martin, by Jan de Baen (?) (c. 1660-1670). Frenchman Isaac de l'Ostal de Saint-Martin (c. 1629-1696) enjoyed a glorious career as a soldier in the service of the VOC between 1657 and 1683. He was stationed at Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Malabar and Ternate. He also fought several hostile Indonesians. In 1683 De Saint-Martin returned to the Netherlands in command of a fleet, only to return two years later to Batavia. He was appointed to the council of the Indies. Chaired by the governor-general, this body was the Dutch administration in Asia. De Saint-Martin remained on the council until his death in 1696. De Saint Martin is depicted as a senior military officer, rather than as a bureaucrat. In his hand is his staff of command. The painting must have been made in the Netherlands, perhaps during his short stay here, or perhaps even earlier.