Who painted Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman was painted by Jan Verkolje in 1691-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Woman?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Woman are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman

Jan Verkolje

Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Verkolje. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a single woman, likely a portrait of an individual rather than a symbolic or allegorical figure, reflecting the straightforward representation typical of Dutch portraiture in the late 17th century. The work is executed on copper, a support favored for its smooth surface and durability, enhancing the fine detail achievable in oil paint.

Technique & Style

The copper support, measuring 58 cm in height and 50 cm in width, contributes to the clarity and luminosity of the paint layers, which remain well-preserved.

The painting is executed in oil on a copper support, a combination that produces a smooth, reflective surface and allows for fine, precise detail. The handling is refined, with meticulous modeling of the sitter’s features and costume, characteristic of Verkolje’s late seventeenth-century Dutch portrait style. The composition is frontal and closely framed, emphasizing the woman’s poised presence through controlled lighting and subtle tonal transitions.

The copper support, measuring 58 cm in height and 50 cm in width, contributes to the clarity and luminosity of the paint layers, which remain well-preserved.

Overview

Jan Verkolje’s Portrait of a Woman (1696) is an oil painting executed on a copper plate. The work portrays a seated lady in an outdoor garden, accompanied by a small dog on a pedestal. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the refined portraiture typical of the Dutch Golden Age.

History & Provenance

Born in Amsterdam and later active in Delft, Verkolje was a prominent portraitist and genre painter in the late seventeenth century. After his career in the Dutch Republic, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on public display as a representative example of his later work.

Context

The portrait belongs to the Dutch Golden Age, a period when economic prosperity fostered a high demand for personal and family portraiture. Verkolje’s focus on genteel interiors and outdoor leisure scenes reflects contemporary tastes for depicting status, refinement, and the cultivated lifestyle of the urban middle class.