Artwork
Portrait of Machtelt Suijs
Portrait of Machtelt Suijs is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Maarten van Heemskerck. It dates from 1542 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Maarten van Heemskerck executed the Portrait of Machtelt Suijs in 1542 using oil paint applied to a wooden panel support.
Maarten van Heemskerck executed the Portrait of Machtelt Suijs in 1542 using oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 85.0 cm in height and 74.0 cm in width, adhering to the vertical format typical of sixteenth-century Netherlandish portraiture. As a classified painting within the portrait genre, the piece demonstrates the artist's handling of oil media on a rigid surface, a standard technique for the period and for the northern Netherlands, where Heemskerck was active in Haarlem.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Machtelt Suijs was painted by Maarten van Heemskerck in 1542, executed in oil paint on panel in the northern Netherlands. The work later passed into the collection of Bruno Meissner before entering the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1987.136. The painting has been featured in the exhibition "Remember Me."
Overview
Maarten van Heemskerck's Portrait of Machtelt Suijs, created in 1542, is an oil painting from the Northern Renaissance. This work exemplifies the Dutch artist's proficiency in portraiture, a genre he frequently explored alongside religious themes. The painting is currently housed in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into mid-16th century Dutch portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Machtelt Suijs, a woman dressed in a dark gown and a white cap, adorned with an elaborate gold necklace. Her face is gently illuminated, contrasting with the darker surroundings. Behind her, a carved wooden face holds a shield bearing a lion and other symbols, while a ringed hand emerges from the frame's edge, holding an unidentified small object, adding enigmatic elements to the composition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Maarten van Heemskerck (born Maerten Jacobsz van Veen; 1 June 1498 – 1 October 1574), also known as Marten Jacobsz Heemskerk van Veen, was a Dutch portrait and religious painter, who spent most of his career in Haarlem.
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