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The 7 Most Famous Hendrik Schaaff Paintings, Each One of a Kind
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 7 works by Hendrik Schaaff in our catalogue
In short
Portrait of Dr. Alb. Meursinge (1833) is the Hendrik Schaaff painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden. After it, the eye goes to Portrait of an Unknown Man (1839) and Self-Portrait of Hendrik Schaaff (1840). Among the 7 works of Hendrik Schaaff in our catalog, these 7 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
1805 – 1850, Leeuwarden
Most works: Fries Museum
Top 10 paintings by Hendrik Schaaff, through the gallery's eye
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The museums that keep Hendrik Schaaff's originals
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Hendrik Schaaff | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fries Museum |
Leeuwarden | 7 | Portrait of Dr. Alb. Meursinge, Portrait of an Unknown Man, Self-Portrait of Hendrik Schaaff |
Hendrik Schaaff across the years: the unique originals of each
12 years separate Hendrik Schaaff's first and last dated originals shown here, 1832 and 1843: each year has its place below.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its originals.
Hendrik Schaaff's paintings: questions for the gallery
What is the single most famous work of Hendrik Schaaff?Reveal the answer
Portrait of Dr. Alb. Meursinge (1833), Fries Museum, Leeuwarden. Portrait of an Unknown Man (1839) and Self-Portrait of Hendrik Schaaff (1840) come next.
At what age did Hendrik Schaaff create Portrait of Dr. Alb. Meursinge?Reveal the answer
28 years old: Portrait of Dr. Alb. Meursinge dates from 1833, and Hendrik Schaaff was born in 1805.
How many works by Hendrik Schaaff are known?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 7 works by Hendrik Schaaff, dated from 1832 to 1843.
Where can the most famous Hendrik Schaaff originals be seen?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Fries Museum (Leeuwarden). The museum table above lists them all.
During which period did Hendrik Schaaff create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer
In 1843: 2 of the 7 works on this page were made then, Portrait of Arnolda Cornelia Robbe (1801-1846) among them.
Which famous Hendrik Schaaff painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Camminghaburg in Leeuwarden (1832) and the latest Portrait of Arnolda Cornelia Robbe (1801-1846) (1843).
What Hendrik Schaaff originals can I see at the Fries Museum?Reveal the answer
Portrait of Dr. Alb. Meursinge, Portrait of an Unknown Man and Self-Portrait of Hendrik Schaaff: the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden holds 7 of the works on this page.
Hendrik Schaaff: a portrait of the artist
The Designer of Leeuwarden
Hendrik Schaaff lived his life within the quiet boundaries of the mid-nineteenth century, leaving behind a footprint primarily felt through the instruction he provided to others. Born in 1805, he was known in his era as a designer. While his name does not carry the weight of the grand painters who followed him, his influence reached into the studios of those who would later shape the Dutch art scene.
His work was rooted in the technical precision required of a designer during this period. Though the specific nature of his drawings remains undocumented, his role as an educator suggests a disciplined hand and a clear understanding of form. He operated in Leeuwarden, establishing himself as a figure of local importance before his death in 1850.
A Legacy of Instruction
The true measure of Schaaff’s presence in art history lies in the lineage of students he helped cultivate. He served as an early teacher to Bisschop Christoffel, providing the foundational lessons that would eventually lead that student to the academies of Amsterdam, Delft, and Paris. Through this connection, Schaaff's methods and perspectives were carried forward into a much broader European context.
To understand his impact is to look at the development of those he mentored:
- The early training of Bisschop Christoffel in Leeuwarden.
- The transmission of design principles to the next generation of Dutch painters.
He passed away in 1850, leaving a void in the local instructional landscape of Leeuwarden, yet his influence persisted through the hands of those who had once sat before him.