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The 5 Most Famous Woutherus Mol Paintings, a Gallery Selection
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 5 works by Woutherus Mol in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals Woutherus Mol left, the most famous is Sleeping boy (1825), in the collection of the Teylers Museum, Haren. Close behind it come Portrait of Paulus Joseph Gabriël, Woutherus Mol, c. 1818 (1818) and Academic Study of a Man and a Woman, Woutherus Mol, 1808 (1808). Our catalog holds 5 works by Woutherus Mol; the gallery has kept the 5 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
1785 – 1857, Haarlem
Most works: Teylers Museum
Woutherus Mol's top 10 paintings: the gallery's choice
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Portrait of Paulus Joseph Gabriël, Woutherus Mol, c. 1818
Portrait of the sculptor Paul Joseph Gabriel. Standing, half-hand, leaned with the right arm on a table with a stone bust.
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Academic Study of a Man and a Woman, Woutherus Mol, 1808
Academy study of a standing naked man and a sitting naked girl or a young man.
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The museums that keep Woutherus Mol's originals
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Woutherus Mol | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Teylers Museum |
Haren | 2 | Sleeping boy, The young artist |
 Rijksmuseum |
Amsterdam | 2 | Portrait of Paulus Joseph Gabriël, Woutherus Mol, c. 1818, Academic Study of a Man and a Woman, Woutherus Mol, 1808 |
Woutherus Mol decade by decade: the original that defines each
Works per decade
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
1800s
Academic Study of a Man and a Woman, Woutherus Mol, 1808
Age 15 – 24
1 work this decade
Academy study of a standing naked man and a sitting naked girl or a young man.
1810s
Portrait of Paulus Joseph Gabriël, Woutherus Mol, c. 1818
Age 25 – 34
2 works this decade
Portrait of the sculptor Paul Joseph Gabriel. Standing, half-hand, leaned with the right arm on a table with a stone bust.
Collectors' questions about Woutherus Mol's paintings
Which work is Woutherus Mol most famous for?Reveal the answer
Sleeping boy (1825), Teylers Museum, Haren. Portrait of Paulus Joseph Gabriël, Woutherus Mol, c. 1818 (1818) and Academic Study of a Man and a Woman, Woutherus Mol, 1808 (1808) come next.
What age was Woutherus Mol when Sleeping boy was made?Reveal the answer
40 years old: Sleeping boy dates from 1825, and Woutherus Mol was born in 1785.
How many paintings did Woutherus Mol leave?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 5 works by Woutherus Mol, dated from 1808 to 1825.
In which museums do Woutherus Mol's masterpieces hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Teylers Museum (Haren) and Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam). The museum table above lists them all.
In which years did Woutherus Mol paint the most famous works?Reveal the answer
In 1810s: 2 of the 5 works on this page were made then, Portrait of Paulus Joseph Gabriël, Woutherus Mol, c. 1818 among them.
What are the first and the last famous originals of Woutherus Mol?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Academic Study of a Man and a Woman, Woutherus Mol, 1808 (1808) and the latest Sleeping boy (1825).
Which Woutherus Mol works hang at the Teylers Museum?Reveal the answer
Sleeping boy and The young artist: the Teylers Museum, Haren holds 2 of the works on this page.
Woutherus Mol: life and work
Early Life and Training
- Born: March 21, 1785, in Haarlem, Netherlands
- Died: August 30, 1857, in Haarlem, Netherlands
- Woutherus Mol received his initial artistic training under the tutelage of Hermanus van Brussel, a painter from Haarlem. This early guidance laid the foundation for his future career.
- In 1802, he became a member of the "Tekengenootschap Kunstmin en Vlijt," the Haarlem drawing society, demonstrating an early commitment to artistic development and community engagement.
Parisian Period and Academic Influences
- Around 1806, Mol traveled to Paris with his parents' permission, seeking further artistic refinement.
- He studied floral painting under Gerard van Spaendonck at an institute in Paris.
- Recognizing a greater interest in historical paintings, he then studied under Jacques-Louis David, the renowned historical painter.
- In 1807, Mol was awarded the Dutch Prix de Rome and received a scholarship as "Hollandsch Kweekeling" (Hollandic pupil) to study and work in Paris, though he never formally visited Rome.
- His artistic style during this period reflected the influence of classical masters like Raphael, evident in his submission to the Amsterdam art exhibition in 1810 – a painting of the Holy Family after Raphael.
Return to Haarlem and Recognition
- After the restoration of the Netherlands in 1813, Mol returned to Haarlem.
- He focused on studying Dutch masters and gained recognition with his submission "The Death of Prince William I" to the Amsterdam art exhibition in 1818. This work, based on a portrait by Christiaen Jansz van Bieselingen, was highly acclaimed and purchased for a significant sum.
- This success led to him becoming an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Brussels.
Later Career and Decline
- While initially celebrated, Mol's later works were considered less impressive, leading to a decline in public opinion.
- He experienced a nervous breakdown and entered the "Rooms-Katholieke Wees- en armenhuis" (Catholic almshouse) in Haarlem in 1846, where he spent his final years without painting.
- Despite this later period, Woutherus Mol remains significant as an artist who bridged early classical influences with Dutch artistic traditions.
Artistic Style and Legacy
- Mol's work is characterized by a blend of academic training and genre scenes, often depicting interiors and portraits.
- His earlier works demonstrate a strong influence from historical painting masters, while his later pieces reflect a more intimate focus on Dutch life.
- He is remembered for his technical skill and ability to capture the nuances of human expression in his paintings.
- The Teylers Museum in Haarlem holds one of his notable works, "Sleeping Boy," which exemplifies his talent for portraying quiet domestic scenes.