Artwork
Portrait of the Wife of the Artist, Cunera van der Cock
Portrait of the Wife of the Artist, Cunera van der Cock is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Frans van Mieris the Elder. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
History & Provenance
The portrait of Cunera van der Cock was painted by Frans van Mieris the Elder in 1662, executed in oil paint on panel as a depiction of the artist's wife.
The portrait of Cunera van der Cock was painted by Frans van Mieris the Elder in 1662, executed in oil paint on panel as a depiction of the artist's wife.
The work entered the Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz collection, an early provenance associated with the Elector Palatine's holdings, and subsequently became part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is now held at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on view as part of that institution's holdings of Dutch and Flemish painting.
The portrait of Cunera van der Cock by Frans van Mieris the Elder belongs to the Bavarian State Painting Collections, having entered the institution as part of the Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz collection. It is housed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains held today. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
In 1662, Frans van Mieris the Elder executed an oil portrait of his wife, Cunera van der Cock. The work exemplifies the intimate portraiture typical of the Dutch Golden Age, presenting a seated woman in a modest yet refined composition. It is currently part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
Cunera is shown with dark, flowing hair partially concealed by a veil, dressed in a white gown accented by a pearl necklace and matching earrings. Her gaze is directed to the left, and her solemn expression conveys a sense of dignity and social standing, reflecting the conventions of marital portraiture in 17th‑century Holland.
Technique & Style
Van Mieris employs a restrained palette and careful modelling of light and shadow, using chiaroscuro to give the figure three‑dimensional presence against a muted, dark background. The rendering of textures, from the sheen of the pearls to the softness of the fabric, demonstrates the artist’s meticulous attention to detail.
Context
Frans van Mieris the Elder belonged to a prominent Leiden artistic dynasty; his sons and grandson also pursued painting. His oeuvre is noted for refined genre scenes and portraits, and this personal work aligns with the broader Dutch emphasis on realistic, domestic representation during a period of flourishing artistic production.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans van Mieris the Elder (16 April 1635 – 12 March 1681), was a Dutch Golden Age genre and portrait painter.
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