Artwork
Portrait of a woman

Portrait of a woman is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Pieter Dubordieu. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Portrait of a woman is executed in oil paint on panel, a support combination typical of seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture.
Portrait of a woman is executed in oil paint on panel, a support combination typical of seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. The work measures 76.5 cm in height by 60.5 cm in width, a vertical format suited to a half- or three-quarter-length depiction of the sitter. Painted in 1638, it belongs to the genre of portraiture and focuses on a single female subject.
No further details of handling, condition, or stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a woman by Pieter Dubordieu is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. According to the available records, the painting was owned by Mietje van den Brink before entering the museum's holdings. The work, an oil on panel measuring 76.5 by 60.5 centimetres, is dated 1638.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Context
The 1638 oil painting Portrait of a woman by Pieter Dubordieu is classified as a portrait genre work. It depicts a woman and was created during Dubordieu's career, contextualized within his broader output as a Dutch artist of the 17th century. The composition and technique reflect contemporary portraiture practices, though specific scholarly analyses of its critical reception are not detailed in the provided documentation.
The work remains part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, owned by Mietje van den Brink, situating it within Dutch Golden Age portraiture traditions.
Overview
Pieter Dubordieu’s 1638 oil painting presents a seated woman rendered against a dark backdrop. The composition centers on her solemn visage, highlighted by a luminous white ruff and a richly detailed gold‑embroidered bodice. Her hands rest lightly in her lap, and modest jewelry, necklace, earrings, and a ring, complete the restrained yet elegant presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays an unidentified female sitter, likely of middle‑to‑upper class standing, as suggested by her attire and accessories. The serious expression and composed posture convey a sense of dignity and introspection, typical of portraiture intended to emphasize personal virtue and social status in the early Dutch Republic.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Dubordieu was a French Baroque portrait painter in the manner of Michiel Jansz Mierevelt.












