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 Dut...