Who painted Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper?

Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper was painted by Jacob Jordaens in 1635.

Where can I see Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper?

Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper?

Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper

Jacob Jordaens , 1635

Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The painting, executed in oil in 1635, portrays Magdalena de Cuyper seated in an opulent interior.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work combines realistic likeness with symbolic elements that underscore her role as a virtuous wife and mother within the affluent merchant class.

The painting shows Magdalena de Cuyper, a member of a prominent Antwerp patrician family, portrayed in her mid‑twenties. She is rendered in modest black silk with a delicate lace collar, holding a small prayer book that emphasizes her devotional character. The composition includes a faint landscape visible through a window, suggesting the family's connection to trade and civic life.

The work combines realistic likeness with symbolic elements that underscore her role as a virtuous wife and mother within the affluent merchant class. Its meaning lies in the representation of bourgeois virtue and the social status of the Cuyper lineage in 17th‑century Antwerp.

The portrait was executed by Jacob Jordaens in 1635 and is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1635, this portrait by Jacob Jordaens is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 152 cm in height and 118 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the piece utilizes oil paint to render the subject, Magdalena de Cuyper, adhering to the conventions of the genre during the mid-17th century.

History & Provenance

The work titled Portrait of Magdalena de Cuyper was created in 1635 by Jacob Jordaens, as recorded in the source metadata. It is an oil on canvas portrait measuring 152 cm by 118 cm, classified as a painting within the portrait genre. The artwork is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and remains in that institution's holdings, according to the documented provenance and collection data.

Overview

The painting, executed in oil in 1635, portrays Magdalena de Cuyper seated in an opulent interior. She is positioned on an upholstered chair, dressed in a dark fur-trimmed coat and a white ruff, her gaze meeting the viewer with calm directness. A red curtain frames a view of a window and a distant statue, while a lit fireplace and carved wood complete the setting.

Context

The work exemplifies the transition of Flemish painting toward a more personal, domestic focus in the mid‑1630s, reflecting Jordaens’s rise as the leading artist in the region. By integrating a modest interior with elements of grandeur, the portrait aligns with contemporary trends that blended private portraiture with the theatricality of Baroque aesthetics.