Nicolaas Pieneman was a Dutch painter and lithographer primarily known for history painting and portraits. He was trained by his father, Jan Willem Pieneman (1779-1853), who was the first director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam, and later by Jean-Baptiste Madou (1796-1877).

He was close friends with William II, King of the Netherlands and painted numerous members of the Royal Family. Several of these portraits were sent abroad as diplomatic gifts.

Many of his works are held at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.