Artwork
Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois as a Child, later Wife of Pieter Boudaen Courten
Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois as a Child, later Wife of Pieter Boudaen Courten is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Geldorp Gortzius. It dates from 1604 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Gortzius Geldorp, a Flemish painter who spent much of his career in Germany, created this portrait in 1604.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Rendered in oil on panel measuring 82 cm high by 64 cm wide, the portrait captures her likeness and records her youthful appearance.
The work portrays Catharina Fourmenois as a child, later identified as the wife of Pieter Boudaen Courten. Rendered in oil on panel measuring 82 cm high by 64 cm wide, the portrait captures her likeness and records her youthful appearance. By depicting her in childhood, the painting not only establishes her individual identity but also alludes to her forthcoming marriage and place within the Courten family.
As a typical early‑seventeenth‑century Dutch portrait, it serves both as a personal likeness and a marker of social status.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Catharina Fourmenois was painted by Geldorp Gortzius in 1604, executed in oil on panel. According to the recorded provenance, the work was owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters before entering the Rijksmuseum collection, where it is currently held.
Overview
Gortzius Geldorp, a Flemish painter who spent much of his career in Germany, created this portrait in 1604. Executed in oil on wooden panel, the work belongs to the period commonly identified with the Dutch Golden Age. It presents a young girl rendered with careful attention to light and texture, and it is currently part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Technique & Style
Geldorp employs a pronounced contrast between illuminated flesh tones and a deep, muted background, a chiaroscuro effect that heightens the three‑dimensionality of the figure. The delicate modeling of the face and the textured rendering of the dark fabric demonstrate the artist’s skill in handling oil pigments to achieve both softness and depth.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gortzius Geldorp (1553–1618) was a Flemish Renaissance artist who was active in Germany where he distinguished himself through his portrait paintings.
