Portrait of a Lady, Dutch, Dated 1693; Signed Johannes Vollevens (1649-1728)

Oil on canvas.

This portrait is an excellent example of the Dutch Baroque portrait. Beautifully composed, the sitter is half length, in an arcadian landscape. The painting abounds with ingenious flourishes and demonstrations of the painter's skill. A remarkable care is exercised, for example, in the painting of the sitter's hands, the white lace, and the treatment of the utterly sumptuous crimson drapery.

Seated and resting one arm on a plinth, a terrace with a classical earn has been prominently placed in the composition, and the sitter’s vast estate is visible in the background. These elements blatantly emphasise the fact that this is an individual of wealth and privelege. The sitter’s sumptuous dress is of the finest material and the entire costume is embellished with diamond jewellery and the accessory par excellence – pearls – which no self respecting prosperous lady would go without. The light complexion and the long hands and fingers were an idealisation of female beauty at the time.

Another portrait by the artist, also dated 1693, contains the same costume and its tricolour combination (white, crimson and gold). The reuse of props, pose, costume or other elements was not uncommon when artists found success with them. The portrait has been signed and dated 'Jan. Vollevens / fet 1693' and is presented in an outstanding 17th 18th century carved and gesso gilt frame.

Johannes Vollevens (1649-1728) was a Dutch Golden Age painter born in Geertruidenberg, Holland. He showed talent from such an early age his parents sent him to learn drawing from the famous painter Caspar Netscher. He was later a pupil of Nicholaes Maes and then studied and worked for Jan de Baen. When he left in 1672 his talent was in demand and he subsequently painted the portraits of the Prince of Courlant and all the officers of his regiment, the Count of Nassau and many other distinguished men.

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