Artwork
Portrait of a girl, known as 'The Little Princess'

Portrait of a girl, known as 'The Little Princess' is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Paulus Moreelse. It dates from 1623 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 78 cm in height by 62.5 cm in width. It portrays a young girl, referred to as The Little Princess, and exemplifies the portrait genre through a naturalistic rendering and restrained palette characteristic of early‑17th‑century Dutch portraiture.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a girl, known as 'The Little Princess' was created by Paulus Moreelse in 1623, executed in oil paint on canvas.
Portrait of a girl, known as 'The Little Princess' was created by Paulus Moreelse in 1623, executed in oil paint on canvas. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located.
The sources document the painting's dating and current institutional ownership, but do not provide information about a commissioning party, earlier owners, or any intervening transfers in the chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
Created in 1623, this oil painting by Dutch portraitist Paulus Moreelse portrays a young girl, often referred to as “The Little Princess.” The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies early‑17th‑century portraiture that emphasizes both individual presence and social status through detailed costume and compositional balance.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown in an opulent black gown trimmed with gold embroidery and delicate lace, complemented by a white lace collar and pearl jewelry on her neck and wrists. She gently strokes a small dog that gazes up at her, a motif that underscores affection and the domestic virtues associated with youthful femininity in the period.
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