Who painted Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665)?

Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665) was painted by Salomon Mesdach in 1619.

Where can I see Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665)?

Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665) is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665)?

Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665)?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665)

Salomon Mesdach , 1619

Portrait of Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Salomon Mesdach. It dates from 1619 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The vertical orientation and generous dimensions reflect the conventions of full-length or three-quarter-length commemorative portraiture of the period.

The portrait is executed in oil paint on panel, a support combination typical of seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. The work measures 104.7 cm in height by 72.9 cm in width, a sizable panel format suited to a formal commissioned likeness. Painted in 1619 by Salomon Mesdach in Middelburg, it is classified as a portrait painting and is held in the Rijksmuseum collection.

The choice of oil on panel allowed for the fine, controlled handling associated with Netherlandish portrait practice, supporting detailed rendering of the sitter's features and costume. The vertical orientation and generous dimensions reflect the conventions of full-length or three-quarter-length commemorative portraiture of the period.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted in 1619 by Salomon Mesdach in Middelburg, depicting Catharina Fourmenois (1598-1665). It was commissioned as a likeness of the sitter and executed in oil paint on panel, measuring 104.7 cm by 72.9 cm. The work entered the collection of Jacob de Witte van Citters shortly after its creation and remains in the possession of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued as part of their portrait genre holdings.

The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is recorded as inventory number SK-C-2167.

It was included in the exhibition “Meesters van de Gouden Eeuw” held at the Rijksmuseum from 15 September 1983 to 15 January 1984.

Overview

Salomon Mesdach’s oil portrait, dated 1619, presents Catharina Fourmenois, who lived from 1598 to 1665. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures the conventions of early‑17th‑century Dutch portraiture, focusing on a single seated figure against a muted backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown in an elaborate costume, her dark hair gathered back and a modest ring visible on her right hand. Her expression is composed, with a faint smile that suggests a restrained confidence typical of the period’s genteel women.