Portrait of a Lady C.1690, Circle of Jan Van Der Vaart (C.1647-1727)

A very pretty bust length portrait of a lady circa 1690, oil on canvas. At the time it became very popular for upper class women to have portraits painted of themselves wearing “undress” which was a form of loosely fastened clothes and fabrics over a voluminous chemise. The clothing in these portraits is not representative of what was worn on the street or at court. This romantic style was commonly used by whom many consider to be the greatest portraitists working in England during the 17th century, Peter Lely and Anthony van Dyck.

The overall style and type is in line with the English studio appearance; this fine example is from the circle of the Dutch artist Jan van der Vaart who worked with Willem Wissing and later took over this studio. The fluid handling shows all the vigour and style of the artist, the clear fresh palette and beautiful rendering. The beautiful young sitter is likely a daughter or wife of a member of King William and Queen Mary’s court. In a good 18th century frame with gilt moulding.

Dutch-born Van der Vaart moved to England from Harleem around 1674 and worked as a portrait, landscape and still lives painter. Between 1685 and 1687, Willem Wissing had employed van der Vaart in his studio to depict the drapery and landscapes and he occasionally collaborated with Johann Kerseboom. After Wissing’s death he took over the workshop and worked as an independent portrait painter but in 1713 poor eyesight forced him to give up his practice. He sold his collection used the funds to buy a house in Covent Garden; from there he devoted his time to the restoration of paintings.

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

In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.

With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.

Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?

• Expertly Curated Selection

We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.

• Museum-Level Research

Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.

• Professional Conservation

All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.

• Transparent Pricing

No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.

• Export Pricing Advantage

Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.

• Specialist Global Shipping

We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.

• Buy with Confidence

A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.

• Original Period Frames

Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.

• Personal Advisory Service

We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.

Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works