Artwork

Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters (1671-1753), daughter of Josina Parduyn

Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters (1671-1753), daughter of Josina Parduyn is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Godfried Schalcken. It dates from 1702 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a genre portrait, the painting serves to represent the sitter's identity and social standing within the context of her family lineage.

The work depicts Josina Clara van Citters (1671–1753), identified as the daughter of Josina Parduyn. Painted by Godfried Schalcken in 1702, the piece functions as a formal portrait of this specific individual. As a genre portrait, the painting serves to represent the sitter's identity and social standing within the context of her family lineage.

The subject is presented without additional allegorical figures or complex symbolic attributes described in the available records, focusing primarily on the likeness of the woman.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Dutch portraiture of the period. The work is a small-scale painting, measuring 30 cm in height by 25 cm in width, consistent with the intimate cabinet-picture format favored for private sittings. It is classified as a portrait and forms part of the holdings of the Rijksmuseum.

Stylistically, the work reflects Godfried Schalcken's practice as a portraitist working in 1702, the date of inception recorded for the piece. The combination of oil on canvas in this modest format is characteristic of Schalcken's refined approach to commissioned likenesses.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted in 1702 by Godfried Schalcken. It depicts Josina Clara van Citters, born in 1671 and later married to Jacob de Witte van Citters, who is recorded as the owner of the work. The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held.

Dimensions are recorded as 30 cm in height and 25 cm in width, executed on canvas using oil paint.

The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, accessioned as SK-C-1802.

It was first recorded in the collection of Jacob de Witte van Citters and later entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. The work has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in the context of Dutch portraiture displays, including in the 2015 presentation Highlights from the Rijksmuseum.

Overview

Painted in 1702 by Godfried Schalcken, Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters is an oil-on-canvas work depicting the daughter of Josina Parduyn. It exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age portrait tradition, characterized by refined techniques akin to the Leiden fijnschilders style.

Context

Within the broader context of Dutch Golden Age art, this portrait aligns with the era's emphasis on realism and the use of light to evoke emotion and depth, a hallmark of the Leiden fijnschilders.

Legacy

While specific influence or notable exhibitions of this piece are not highlighted, it contributes to the enduring legacy of Schalcken's work in the tradition of Dutch portrait painting, exemplifying techniques that continue to be studied.