Who painted Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister?

Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister was painted by Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen in 1620.

Where can I see Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister?

Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister is held by Tate.

What movement is Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister?

Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister

Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen , 1620

Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Tate.

About this work

Overview

Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen, an early‑17th‑century portraitist of Dutch descent who worked in London, painted the work known as Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister in 1620. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece is part of the Tate Britain collection and exemplifies the formal portrait conventions of its time.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a young woman with fair skin and brown hair, shown in a dark, high‑necked dress trimmed with a white lace collar. She gazes directly at the viewer with a neutral expression, suggesting a calm, introspective presence rather than overt narrative content.

Technique & Style

Rendered in the Flemish Baroque idiom, the painting employs chiaroscuro to model the figure against a muted brown backdrop, creating depth and a three‑dimensional effect. The delicate handling of lace and the feathered headdress demonstrate van Ceulen’s attention to texture and material.

History & Provenance

Van Ceulen was active in London from at least 1618 and became the first English‑born artist to leave a substantial body of signed portraits. The work entered the Tate Britain collection in the 20th century, though earlier ownership details remain sparse.

Context

The portrait belongs to a period when portraiture served both as a record of social status and as a means of displaying refined taste. Van Ceulen’s Dutch‑Flemish heritage informed his use of light and colour, aligning the piece with contemporary continental trends while catering to English patrons.

Artist & collection

Artist

Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen

Cornelis Janssens (born Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen, Dutch: ; bapt. 14 October 1593 – bur. 5 August 1661) was an Anglo-Dutch painter of portraits. Born of Dutch or Flemish parents who fled to London from Antwerp to…