Portrait of a Lady C.1620 Dutch School, Oil on Panel

This exquisite large scale portrait is a sublime example of The Dutch Golden Age portrait. In this carefully observed three quarter length portrait the patron is wearing the stye of clothing that was fashionable in Holland around 1620. The large millstone ruff, martching wrist ruffs, and the elaborate stomacher were costly garments and her wealth is further emphasised by the expensive black satin fabrics, embroidered bodice, and solid gold jewelry. She is wearing a padded roll to hold her skirt in the fashionable shape. The coat of arms on the lozenge upper left is replicated on the gold pendant that hangs from the chain.

This is in no doubt a bridal portrait and would have been commissioned to celebrate the marriage. She wears a wedding ring on her right forefinger. The type of diadem cap was worn by married woman and the vlieger (the loose fitting cape) was entirely reserved for married woman. The exquisitely embroidered gloves that she holds were probabaly an engagement gift given to the young bride by her husband. The glove as such symbolised the sealing of the marriage contract and although in the 17th century gloves appear not to have played a definite role any longer in the wedding ceremony, they were one of the obligatory gifts from the bridegroom to the bride, which were handed over at the bethrothal and put on display before the wedding took place. Embroidered gloves started to appear in portraits of woman of the regent class in the second decade of the 17th century.

The Dutch Golden Age of painting was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. Dutch explorers charted new territory and settled abroad. Trade by the Dutch East-India Company thrived, and war heroes from the naval battles were decorated and became national heroes. During this time, The Dutch Old Masters began to prevail in the art world, creating a depth of realistic portraits of people and life in the area that has hardly been surpassed. The Golden Age painters depicted the scenes that their discerning new middle class patrons wanted to see. This new wealth from merchant activities and exploration combined with a lack of church patronage, shifted art subjects away from biblical genres. Still lifes of items of everyday objects, landscapes, and seascapes reflecting the naval and trade power that the Republic enjoyed were popular. The large group portrait is also a standard subject often of a civic organisations. The new wealthly class were keen to have their portraits commissioned and thus many artist’s worked in this lucrative genre. The present work is very similar to works by Cornelis van der Voort (1576-1624) and Nicolaes Eliaszoon Pickenoy (1588-1653/1656).

This sublime portrait has been meticulously rendered and it is our pleasure to offer such an exquisite item.

Measurements: Height 148.5cm, Width 118cm framed (Height 58.5”, Width 46.5” framed)

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