Artwork
Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Charles Howard Hodges. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Oil paint applied to canvas creates a painted portrait of an unidentified woman. The work measures 73 cm in height and 60 cm in width and dates to 1812. It is housed in the Rijksmuseum, where it is part of the collection assembled by Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt.
History & Provenance
Created in 1812, the work depicts an unidentified woman and was previously owned by Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt.
The painting was created in 1812 by Charles Howard Hodges. At some point, the work entered the collection of Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt, who is recorded as the owner. The painting was subsequently acquired by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it remains in the collection.
The painting Portrait of a Woman by Charles Howard Hodges is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1812, the work depicts an unidentified woman and was previously owned by Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt. The provided sources confirm its location and ownership history but do not contain specific inventory accession numbers or details regarding its exhibition history.
Overview
Created in 1812 by Charles Howard Hodges, an English artist who spent much of his career in the Netherlands, this oil painting presents a solitary female sitter. Executed in a neoclassical manner, the work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings and exemplifies the period’s interest in restrained elegance and individualized portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays an unnamed woman seated in a modest pose, her attire consisting of a dark brown gown with a high, lace‑trimmed neckline. Her hair is gathered softly and accented with modest floral and ribbon ornaments, suggesting a genteel yet unpretentious status. The lack of identifying attributes leaves the figure’s personal narrative open to interpretation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Howard Hodges (1764 – 24 July 1837) was an English painter active in the Netherlands during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.











![Mrs. Pearson [possibly Sarah Thompson Pearson], by Pieter Christoffel Wonder](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/pieter-christoffel-wonder--mrs-pearson-possibly-sarah-thompson-pearson--0006ffde77661f8c-w320.webp)





