Artwork
Ellen Maurice (1578–1626)
Ellen Maurice (1578–1626) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. It dates from 1599 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
It belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and was included in the exhibition “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England.
The painting Ellen Maurice is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring approximately 90.5 centimetres in height and 74.3 centimetres in width. Dated 1597, the work presents a half‑length portrait of a woman, attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. It belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and was included in the exhibition “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England.” The medium and support are typical of Gheeraerts’s output from the late sixteenth century.
History & Provenance
The portrait titled Ellen Maurice was executed in 1597 by the English court painter Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger using oil on panel. Its dimensions measure approximately 90.5 × 74.3 cm, as recorded in the work’s technical specifications. The painting depicts Ellen Maurice, a member of the English gentry, rendered in the portrait genre typical of late‑16th‑century English art.
Following its creation, the work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it has been preserved and displayed, notably as part of the exhibition "The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England." Its provenance is therefore traced to the museum’s acquisition and subsequent exhibition history.
The portrait of Ellen Maurice, painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger in 1597, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and is displayed in its European Paintings galleries. It is catalogued as a work in the museum's holdings, though a specific accession or inventory number is not recorded in the available documentation. The painting was included in the exhibition "The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England," which highlighted its significance within the cultural context of the period. Its provenance is documented through the museum's collection records and the work's entry in scholarly references.
Overview
This oil portrait, painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger in 1599, depicts Ellen Maurice, a woman born in 1578. The work exemplifies the Mannerist style prevalent during the final years of Queen Elizabeth I's reign in England. Gheeraerts, a Flemish artist who became a prominent court painter, captured Maurice in a formal pose, showcasing the intricate fashion of the era. The painting is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Ellen Maurice seated against a dark backdrop, her posture conveying a sense of stillness. She is adorned in an elaborate silver-gray gown, meticulously embroidered on the sleeves and bodice. A wide lace collar frames her face, and a pearl necklace rests on her chest.
Her hands delicately hold a string of beads, while gold brooches embellish her sleeves, reflecting the sartorial elegance and social status of the sitter in late 16th-century England.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Marcus Gheeraerts (also written as Gerards or Geerards; c. 1561/62 – 19 January 1636) was a Flemish artist working at the Tudor court, described as "the most important artist of quality to work in England in large-scale…
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