Artwork
Portrait of a Woman with a Dog
Portrait of a Woman with a Dog is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hendrik Gerritsz Pot. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The handling of light and detail on the panel surface demonstrates the technical proficiency of Hendrik Gerritsz Pot.
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, measuring approximately 41.8 cm in height by 32.0 cm in width and dated to 1635 in the Netherlands. It belongs to the portrait genre and was created using oil paint, a medium typical of Dutch painting of the period. The composition depicts a woman alongside a dog, a table, a diadem cap, and a millstone‑collared attire, arranged in a balanced, formal manner that reflects contemporary portrait conventions.
The handling of light and detail on the panel surface demonstrates the technical proficiency of Hendrik Gerritsz Pot.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Woman with a Dog is currently held at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 2011.47. The work's provenance traces back through the Demidov collection and the Villa San Donato before passing through the Munich Central Collecting Point. While the painting is primarily attributed to Hendrik Gerritsz Pot, created in 1635, the museum's records also list Thomas de Keyser as a potential creator.
The artwork, an oil painting on panel measuring 41.8 by 32.0 centimeters, depicts a woman accompanied by a dog, wearing a diadem cap and millstone collar.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Woman with a Dog, captures a female figure standing within an interior setting, accompanied by a small canine. She is attired in a dark dress, complemented by a white cap and a prominent collar. The woman leans gently on a table covered with a red cloth, where an open book rests. The composition places the figures against a plain, dark background, with a chair visible in the distance.
Subject & Meaning
The subject's attire, particularly her stiff, ruffled millstone collar, indicates her social status. This style of collar was a fashionable accessory for affluent women during the 17th century, signaling wealth and refinement. The inclusion of the small dog, seated attentively at her feet and gazing upward, introduces a personal element to the portrait, often symbolizing loyalty, companionship, or the sitter's domestic life.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrik Gerritsz Pot (c. 1580 – 15 October 1657 (buried)) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, who lived and painted in Haarlem, where he was an officer of the militia, or schutterij. Dutch artist Frans Hals painted Pot in…
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