The author of this striking oil on panel portrait was a painter of considerable talent and ability to render with great realism. It can be dated to between 1645 to 1650 based on the attire, in particular the layered collar. During this period two or three transparent white lawn collars, often lace-trimmed, were layered falling diagonally from the shoulders. During the proceeding five years it was fashionable to wear three transparent layers, but along with two layers falling vertically, a third layer followed the contour of the arm.The lace is a clue to her family’s wealth as much is the expensive black dyed fabrics. Lace collars varied considerably within certain periods and were prized possessions (they are often listed in inventories of estates). Lace was often even more expensive than jewellery and the extraordinary shimmering quality of the costly fabric (black was the most expensive fabric to dye) is of the highest quality and de rigueur for the upper and wealthy mercant...