Portrait of a Lady in an Elaborate Ruff and White Coiff C.1616; Attributed to Cornelis Van Der Voort (C.1576-1624), Oil on Canvas Painting

This exquisite oil on panel portrait depicts a young lady wearing the most elaborate and costly items of the period. The Dutch coif or coronet of sheer lawn with lace, the lavishly embroidered stomacher, and the exquisite ‘molensteenkraag’ or millstone collar made of batiste fabric are of the highest quality materials, and de rigueur for the wealthy individuals of society. The collar itself often requiring over 15 metres of fabric and an incredible effort to maintain. The whiteness of her skin serves as a marker of her social background and status, highlighting how physical appearance can often play a significant role in how individuals were perceived in society.

This portrait shows the precise, meticulously crafted, style for which the artist became well-known and is a fine example in its description of the sitter’s character and the careful reproduction of the face and fabrics. The well-preserved condition provides a unique opportunity for us to admire the intricacy and details of the attire that may not always be possible in portraits from a similar age. The dark pigments used to depict the expensive black silk, along with the intricate lace, have remarkably stood the test of time, allowing us to appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that went into creating them four hundred years ago.

The gold pin worn in her hair on her left side indicates that she was engaged when the portrait was painted; married women wore the ‘betrothal pin’ on their right side.

This portrait was in the famous collection of Dr. Paul Viktorovich Delaroff (1852-1913) who was a legal advisor based in St. Petersburg and Pavlovsk. He was an advisor at the Ministry of Public Works and eventually became a privy councillor to His Majesty the Emperor of Russia. Delaroff dedicated much of his life to the study of painting and engaged in art dealing on a large scale. His extensive network enabled him to make several advantageous purchases and helped reignite interest in the Dutch school among Russian art enthusiasts. He amassed a vast collection of paintings, with some of his finest pieces loaned to museums in The Hague, Leiden, Berlin, and elsewhere. His impressive gallery of old master paintings was sold at auction in Paris during two sales in 1914, the first held on April 23-24, and the second from April 27 to May 2.

Contained within a good quality period frame.

Cornelis van der Voort, or van der Voorde (circa 1576 – circa 1624), was a distinguished Dutch portrait painter, art collector, art appraiser, and art dealer active during the early 17th century in Amsterdam. His oeuvre includes both individual and group portraits, notably the 'schuttersstukken' which portray members of local militias, and 'regentenstukken' depicting the regents of charitable institutions—a genre he notably pioneered. Van der Voort's contributions were instrumental in the evolution of portrait painting within the early 17th-century Dutch Republic, and he is particularly acclaimed for his introduction of the life-size, full-length format to the practice of Dutch portraiture. His oeuvre was highly sought after and regarded with great reverence. He significantly impacted the early portraiture of Rembrandt, as well as the works of Nicolaes Eliasz, Pickenoy, and Thomas de Keyser.

Provenance:

The Collection of Dr. Paul Viktorovitch Delaroff (1852-1913), Saint Petersburg and Pavlovsk;

His sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, “LA TRES IMPORTANTE COLLECTION de Son Excellence feu Paul DELAROFF – Conseiller privè de Sa Majesté L'mperateur de Russe.” 2 May 1914. This painting is listed in the catalog under lot number 193 and described as: “Portrait de femme” with the corresponding dimensions of 49 x 37.5 cm

More info at: www.titanfineart.com

Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com

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