Who painted Portrait of an Old Lady?

Portrait of an Old Lady was painted by Fra Galgario in 1730-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of an Old Lady?

Portrait of an Old Lady is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of an Old Lady?

Portrait of an Old Lady is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of an Old Lady?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of an Old Lady are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of an Old Lady

Fra Galgario , 1730

Portrait of an Old Lady is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Fra Galgario. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a woman, identified in the record as an old lady, presented in the genre of a portrait.

The work depicts a woman, identified in the record as an old lady, presented in the genre of a portrait. Created in 1730 by Vittore Ghislandi, known as Fra Galgario, the painting focuses on the individual likeness of the sitter rather than illustrating a specific narrative or allegorical scene. As a straightforward portrait from the early 18th century, the piece represents the artist's engagement with capturing human character and presence through oil on canvas.

The subject is rendered without additional symbolic elements or contextual figures in the available description, emphasizing the direct representation of the female figure.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a format typical of 18th‑century European portraiture. Fra Galgario employed layered brushwork to render the sitter’s flesh tones and drapery, creating a restrained yet expressive surface. The composition emphasizes a three‑quarter view, with the figure positioned slightly off‑center, allowing a subtle play of light across the cheek and collar.

Stylistically, the piece reflects the Rococo’s delicate tonal modulation while retaining a sober realism in the facial expression, underscoring the artist’s blend of decorative elegance and psychological depth.

History & Provenance

Portrait of an Old Lady is an oil painting on canvas created in 1730 by the Italian artist Fra Galgario. The work measures 73 cm in height and 59 cm in width and depicts an elderly woman. It belongs to the portrait genre and was produced during the early 18th century in Italy.

The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection and has remained in the museum's custody since its acquisition.

Overview

Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, known as Fra’ Galgario, created the oil painting Portrait of an Old Lady in 1730. Executed during his active period in Bergamo, the work exemplifies his focus on portraiture within the late‑Baroque to Rococo transition. The canvas is presently part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Context

The painting aligns with the broader European trend of individualized portraiture that flourished in the Rococo era, emphasizing elegance and personal identity. Fra’ Galgario’s work, situated between the dramatic vigor of the Baroque and the lighter, decorative sensibilities of Rococo, illustrates the transitional aesthetic of northern Italian art in the early 1700s.

Portrait of Elisabeth Troost (1730-1790), Cornelis Ploos van Amstel

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Artist & collection

Artist

Fra Galgario

Fra’ Galgario (4 March 1655 – December 1743), born Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, and also called Fra’ Vittore del Galgario, was an Italian painter, mainly active in Bergamo as a portraitist during the Rococo or late-Baroque period.