Artwork
Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters (1671-1753), sister of Anna van Citters
Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters (1671-1753), sister of Anna van Citters is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Simon Du Bois. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint on canvas in 1693, the portrait employs a restrained palette dominated by dark earth tones punctuated by the white lace collar and cuffs that anchor the composition. The handling is smooth and controlled, characteristic of late seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture, with carefully blended transitions on the face and precise linear definition in the costume details. The sitter’s three-quarter pose and downward glance follow contemporary conventions, while the subdued lighting models the facial planes without dramatic chiaroscuro.
The canvas support is visible along the edges, indicating it has not undergone later relining, and the surface appears stable with no obvious tears or significant abrasion in the paint layer.
History & Provenance
The provided sources do not contain information regarding the exhibition history of this specific artwork.
Simon Du Bois executed this oil-on-canvas portrait in 1693. The work depicts Josina Clara van Citters (1671–1753), who was the sister of Anna van Citters. Historical records indicate that the painting was owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The portrait is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. While specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the work is identified as a 1693 oil painting on canvas by Simon Du Bois. Historical ownership is attributed to Jacob de Witte van Citters. The provided sources do not contain information regarding the exhibition history of this specific artwork.
Overview
Simon Du Bois’s 1697 oil portrait presents Josina Clara van Citters, a Dutch woman of the late seventeenth century. Rendered against a dark backdrop, the sitter gazes directly at the viewer, her expression solemn. The work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age approach to portraiture, emphasizing realism and a restrained palette, and is presently housed in the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
Josina Clara van Citters (1671‑1753) is identified as the sister of Anna van Citters, suggesting a familial commission. Her attire, a brown dress trimmed with a white ruffle and a red cloth draped over the left shoulder, signals modest status while the direct eye contact conveys personal presence and dignity typical of private portraiture of the period.
Context
The portrait reflects the cross‑regional artistic exchanges of the late 1600s, where a Flemish‑born artist active in England produced work for Dutch patrons. Its composition mirrors contemporary trends that favored individualized likenesses over allegorical symbolism, situating the sitter within the broader social fabric of the Dutch Golden Age.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Simon Du Bois or Dubois (baptized 26 July 1632, Antwerp – buried 26 May 1706, London) ), was a portrait painter, of Flemish or Dutch origin, active in England from 1685 until his death.
Portrait of Aernout van Citters (1661-1718), son of Aernout van Citters and Christina de Brauw
Portrait of Anna van Citters (1664-94), daughter of Aernout van Citters and Josina Parduyn
Portrait of Emerantia van Citters (1666-94), sister of Anna van Citters
Portrait of Johanna van Citters (1672-1740), sister of Anna van Citters
Aernout van Citters (1661-1718), Son of Aernout van Citters and Christina de Brauw
