Mayor Edzard Tjarda van Starkenborgh-Stachouwer (1900-1917)

About this artwork.

Edzard Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer (1859 - 1936) was a Groningen notary's son, who also held that office himself. When he became mayor at the age of 41, his father was an alderman. Since the Municipalities Act does not allow family members on the council, the old Van Starkenborgh has to stop his administrative activities after 32 years. However, he grants his son this new career.

In 1904 he was also elected to the Provincial Council of Groningen. His careful administration endeared him to the people, who offered him a serenade and a new chain of office upon his reelection as mayor to a third term in 1912. After serving as mayor for seventeen years, Stachouwer accepted the position of Queen's Commissioner for the province of Groningen in 1917. Stachouwer held the office of mayor from 1900 to 1917. In 1925 he was succeeded as commissioner by his son Alidius.

In November 1938, the Van Starkenborgh Canal named after him was officially opened by Queen Wilhelmina.

The mayor's portrait was painted in 1917 by Franciscus Hermanus Bach (1865 - 1956), painter from the city of Groningen. Bach was already a teacher at Minerva at the age of nineteen. Jan Altink was one of his students, who, together with other former students of F.H. Bach founded the art society De Ploeg in 1918.

Top right in the painting: Groningen 1900-1917, top left the coat of arms with black eagles of the Tjarda van Starkenborgh-Stachouwer family and a red lion in the shield. The painted chain of office of mayor Edzard Tjarda dates from 1912 and was made at the time by the city's two chicest jewelry stores, Brugsma and Oving. The coat of arms of the Tjarda van Starkenborgh-Stachouwer family, the family coat of arms of the university where he was curator and that of the municipality of Groningen is depicted on the necklace. Edzard Tjarda has considered the necklace a gift to himself. The token that belongs at the bottom of the chain is now attached to the mayor's current chain. The chain of office is a museum object and is located in the depot of the Groninger Museum. The mayor's portrait was donated to the municipality by Mr. van Starkenborgh after his term ended in 1917.

Facts & Figures.

• Artist(s)
  Franciscus Hermanus Bach

• Year of creation
  1917

• Dimensions (in cm)
  69x56

• Collection
  Town Hall Collection

• Technic
  Oil paint on canvas