Artwork
Portrait of a woman, traditionally identified as Isabella Brant
Portrait of a woman, traditionally identified as Isabella Brant is a paint painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject is portrayed wearing specific accessories that form the painting's iconography, including a pearl necklace, a hand fan, and a brooch.
The work depicts a woman traditionally identified as Isabella Brant, the first wife of Peter Paul Rubens. The subject is portrayed wearing specific accessories that form the painting's iconography, including a pearl necklace, a hand fan, and a brooch. These elements, combined with the sitter's presentation, define the visual meaning of this 1637 portrait.
The inclusion of the pearl necklace and fan serves as key symbolic attributes of the figure as represented in the artwork.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1637, this portrait by Peter Paul Rubens is realized in paint on a panel support. The work depicts a female subject adorned with specific accessories, including a pearl necklace, a brooch, and a hand fan. Stylistically, the piece functions as a formal portrait, capturing the sitter with these distinct attributes that contribute to its traditional identification as Isabella Brant. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
History & Provenance
Created in 1637, this portrait on panel is attributed to Peter Paul Rubens and traditionally identifies the sitter as Isabella Brant. The work measures approximately 96 to 98 centimeters in height and 70 centimeters in width. While specific details regarding its original commission or early ownership chain are not provided in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Context
The work is widely recognized as a defining example of Rubens' mature portraiture, reflecting his role in shaping Baroque realism and diplomatic visual culture. Scholarship emphasizes its psychological depth and the sitter's status as a prominent figure in Antwerp's social network, linking the painting to Rubens' broader influence on European portraiture and his workshop practices.
The painting's inclusion in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin's collection underscores its canonical standing, with its depiction of Isabella Brant highlighted in scholarly analyses of Rubens' genre innovations and his engagement with contemporary themes of femininity and authority.
Overview
Executed in 1637, this oil portrait by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens presents a seated woman dressed in a blue gown with a white collar, a black shawl, and a pearl necklace. She holds a hand‑fan in her right hand, while a deep red backdrop frames the composition, emphasizing the figure’s refined bearing.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch:; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
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