Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Adriaensz Backer. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
History & Provenance
The work is a portrait of an unidentified woman and is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Portrait of a Lady was painted by Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1635. The work is a portrait of an unidentified woman and is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The oil painting measures 67 centimeters in height and 51 centimeters in width.
While the painting’s date is firmly established, earlier ownership, any commission details, or subsequent transfers before its entry into the museum are not documented in the available sources.
The painting is held by the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it is inventoried as part of the national collection.
It has been exhibited at the Statens Museum for Kunst, as recorded in the institution’s holdings for works by Jacob Adriaensz Backer.
Overview
Portrait of a Lady, created by Dutch Golden Age painter Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1635, is a portrait of a woman characterized by its calm and softly lit demeanor. The work is part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a serene woman with pale blonde hair and light skin, dressed in a dark dress with a high white collar and a simple white cap. Her calm facial expression and gently placed hands in her lap convey a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
Backer employed a plain dark background to focus attention on the subject. The painting showcases meticulous use of chiaroscuro, with soft lighting accentuating her facial features, collar, and hands through strategic manipulation of shadows and highlights.
Context
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the portrait exemplifies the period's emphasis on individual portraiture and the use of lighting techniques to evoke depth and emotion.
Legacy
As one of approximately 140 paintings by Backer, Portrait of a Lady contributes to the artist's legacy in Dutch Golden Age art, particularly in the realm of portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Adriaensz Backer (1608 – 27 August 1651) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He produced about 140 paintings in twenty years, including portraits, religious subjects, and mythological paintings. In his style, he was…
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