Artwork
Portrait of a girl
Portrait of a girl is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Paulus Moreelse. It dates from 1623 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a young girl wearing a delicate necklace and lace collar, typical of 17th-century portraiture that emphasized refinement and modest virtue.
The painting shows a young girl wearing a delicate necklace and lace collar, typical of 17th-century portraiture that emphasized refinement and modest virtue. The work functions as a conventional likeness rather than a narrative scene, reflecting the status of the sitter within affluent Dutch society. Its iconography relies on subtle accessories rather than symbolic attributes, suggesting an emphasis on personal identity and material prosperity.
The portrait therefore represents both an individual subject and the broader cultural values of elegance and familial standing in the Dutch Golden Age.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1623 by Paulus Moreelse, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 105.3 cm in height and 82.3 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on a young girl, distinguished by the detailed rendering of her attire, specifically a lace collar and a necklace.
These elements highlight the artist's attention to textural contrasts between the softness of the subject and the intricate patterns of her clothing.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted by Paulus Moreelse in 1623, as indicated by the artist’s dated inscription.
It entered the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, where it remains held. The work’s dimensions are recorded as 105.3 cm in height and 82.3 cm in width.
Paulus Moreelse's Portrait of a Girl (1623) is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. The work is executed in oil on canvas and depicts a young girl wearing a necklace and lace. Specific inventory or accession numbers for the painting are not provided in the available records. The sources do not contain any information regarding the work's exhibition history.
Overview
Paulus Moreelse’s oil painting, dated 1623, presents a young woman in an intimate interior. The work, titled Portrait of a Girl, is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Ireland. Rendered in a modest scale, the composition focuses on the sitter’s poised stance and the subtle play of light across her attire.
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Artist & collection
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