This elegant and graceful portrait was painted by John Closterman (Johann Kloosterman), a leading late-seventeenth century court painter. Closterman developed a strong reputation as one of London''s leading portraitists, depicting royalty, nobility and key society figures of the period. Painted during the 1690’s it one of his finest works.The sitter has been depicted seated in a wooded area with a blue sky and setting sun visible in the background. Much of the attractiveness of this elegant large-scale portrait resides in the graceful composition and the beauty of the youthful sitter; the finely painted facial features are superb. It is also striking in its portrayal of the sumptuous fabrics and their decorative richness.The portrait genre was valued particularly highly in English society. Neither landscapes nor allegorical pictures were ever priced so highly at exhibitions and in the trade as depictions of people, from the highest aristocracy to scholars, writers, poets an...