Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Maes. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
It portrays a woman in a three-quarter view, rendered with the fine brushwork and naturalistic lighting characteristic of Dutch Golden Age portraiture.
The painting is an oil on canvas portrait executed in 1665 by Nicolaes Maes. The work measures 111.8 cm in height and 89.5 cm in width, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's cataloging data. It portrays a woman in a three-quarter view, rendered with the fine brushwork and naturalistic lighting characteristic of Dutch Golden Age portraiture.
The support is a canvas, and the medium is oil paint, consistent with the artist's technique in his later portrait series. The piece is classified as a portrait within the museum's collection.
History & Provenance
The work was painted by Nicolaes Maes in 1665, as recorded in the artist's oeuvre and confirmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's cataloguing of the canvas. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a portrait of a woman executed in oil on canvas, measuring 111.8 cm in height and 89.5 cm in width. The ownership history prior to the museum's acquisition is not documented in the cited sources, which also do not specify a unique inventory or accession number or detail the work's exhibition history.
Overview
Nicolaes Maes, a Dutch painter active during the Golden Age, created this Portrait of a Woman in 1665. Executed in oil paint, the work exemplifies the genre of portraiture prevalent in the Netherlands during the 17th century. It depicts a seated female figure, whose direct gaze engages the viewer, embodying a sense of quiet introspection. The painting is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a woman seated, her posture composed as she looks forward. She is dressed in a dark gown accented with crisp white cuffs and a collar, holding a book gently in her lap. Her dark hair is styled without elaborate adornment.
The subtle landscape in the dark background contributes to an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, inviting a connection with the sitter's thoughtful expression.
Context
Created in 1665, this portrait emerged during the flourishing period of the Dutch Golden Age. Nicolaes Maes initially established his career in Dordrecht, where he was recognized for both portraits and genre scenes. This work reflects the sophisticated demand for individual likenesses in the era, preceding Maes's eventual relocation to Amsterdam, where he became a prominent figure in the city's portrait market.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaes Maes (January 1634 – December 1693; buried 24 December 1693) was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes, portraits, religious compositions and the occasional still life.
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