Artwork
Woman Holding a Pearl Necklace In Her Hand
Woman Holding a Pearl Necklace In Her Hand is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Koninck. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work of genre art, the scene captures a domestic moment rather than a historical or mythological narrative.
The painting depicts a woman or girl standing near a window while holding a pearl necklace. As a work of genre art, the scene captures a domestic moment rather than a historical or mythological narrative. The inclusion of the pearl necklace functions as a specific visual element within the composition, contributing to the depiction of the figure's attire and the intimate setting.
The work is set in the Netherlands and presents the subject in a straightforward manner typical of the genre.
Technique & Style
Created in 1664, this work is an oil painting executed on canvas. The piece depicts a female figure holding a pearl necklace, situated near a window, characteristic of Dutch genre art. While the primary attribution is to Philips Koninck, historical records have also associated the creation with Nicolaes Maes and Rembrandt.
The painting originated in the Netherlands and was once part of the collection owned by François Tronchin before entering the holdings of the Hermitage Museum.
History & Provenance
The painting Woman Holding a Pearl Necklace In Her Hand by Philips Koninck is dated 1664, a date associated with its creation and early ownership history.
The work entered the Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains located. Before its arrival at the Hermitage, it was owned by François Tronchin, an 18th‑century collector active in the Netherlands.
The painting Woman Holding a Pearl Necklace In Her Hand is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The work, dated to 1664, was previously owned by François Tronchin before entering the museum's holdings. The Hermitage attributes the creation of this oil-on-canvas genre scene to Philips Koninck, though some records also associate the work with Nicolaes Maes and Rembrandt. The inventory details confirm the depiction of a woman holding a pearl necklace near a window.
Overview
Philips Koninck’s 1664 oil painting presents a solitary woman holding a pearl necklace against a muted backdrop. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the work exemplifies the period’s focus on intimate, genre‑type scenes rendered with meticulous attention to light and texture. The piece now resides in the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.
Context
The work reflects the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with domestic interiors and the moral undertones often attached to depictions of jewelry. By portraying a modestly dressed woman with an expensive accessory, Koninck aligns with contemporary genre painters who used such scenes to comment on virtue, wealth, and the transience of material beauty.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philips Koninck (5 November 1619 – 4 October 1688), also spelled Philip de Koninck, was a Dutch landscape painter and younger brother of Jacob Koninck.
