RARE, LARGE c17th DUTCH OLD MASTER PORTRAIT OIL PAINTING Att: Jacob Fransz. Van Der MerckBrief Description:This is a magnificently large and rare Original mid-17th century Dutch Old Master Oil on Canvas Portrait Painting depicting a seated Lady from the Dordrecht district in the south of Holland.Attributed to famous listed Dutch Old Master artist Jacob Fransz. van der Merck (c.1610-1664).The rosy-complexioned Lady is wearing a period black & white lace dress with a huge bejewelled brooch that is embellished with precious stones and freshwater Pearls.The piece is exceptional and it screams 17th century Dutch Old Master quality.To the reverse of the painting, there is an original period attached label that describes the sitter as ''A Lady Of Dordrecht'', attributed to ''J. F. Van Der Merck''Further attached is a very old restorers label which reads:''HERM. RITSCHL Maler - k.u.k. Restaurier, Heugasse 54, Wien, 4/2'', ''Restaurier Buch Nr. 4491''''It is a fabulous example by one of the great 17th-century Old Master Dutch Painters.Indeed, it is interesting to note that some of Van Der Merk''s Oil Paintings have reached prices over �100.000 at auction. Biography: Jacob Fransz. van der Merck (c.1610-1664)Jacob Fransz. van der Merck was a painter of portraits, still lifes and genre. It is believed he began his training in Delft from 1628 until 1631. He left Delft in 1631 and was recorded as a member of the Saint Luke�s Guild in The Hague from 1636 until 1640. From 1640 � 1649 he was a member of the guild in Dordrecht and then returned to the Hague in 1649. There he married Geertruyt Jacobsdr. Schaaphuijsen from Dordrecht. In 1658 Merck moved to Leiden where he remained for the rest of his life.His genre scenes were influenced by those of Anthonie Palamedesz, Pieter Codde, and Pieter Quast. His subjects include musical parties, dances, conversation pieces and soldiers...