1625
oil
From the collection of Norton Simon Museum
This portrait shows a woman dressed as a nun, looking directly at the viewer. She is wearing a dark green habit and a white shirt, with a black veil covering her head. Her hands are clasped together in front of her. The woman's gaze is calm and introspective, and her features are rendered in fine detail. The background of the painting is a muted brown color, which helps to focus attention on the subject. The painting is an example of the artist's skill with chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth. The artist is Peter Paul Rubens.
