Artwork
Lady with a Dog
Lady with a Dog is an oil painting. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a woman accompanied by a dog, a composition that merges portraiture with a subtle narrative element. The animal functions as a symbolic companion, often interpreted as an emblem of fidelity or domestic virtue in 17th-century portraiture. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 84.5 cm by 71.5 cm and is housed in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst.
Technique & Style
Created in 1650, this portrait is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 84.5 cm in height and 71.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on the depiction of a woman accompanied by a dog, adhering to the conventions of portraiture from the mid-17th century. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
No further details regarding its original commission, earlier ownership history, or specific creation circumstances are provided in the available records.
Lady with a Dog is an oil painting on canvas created in 1650. The work depicts a woman accompanied by a dog and measures 84.5 cm in height by 71.5 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located.
The artist responsible for the piece is recorded within the museum's holdings as unknown, though the work is sometimes associated with the identifier KMS Stroe 120. No further details regarding its original commission, earlier ownership history, or specific creation circumstances are provided in the available records.
Legacy
The painting's lasting impact stems from its subtle psychological depth and technical mastery within 17th-century portraiture, establishing a benchmark for later genre scenes. Its depiction of an intimate domestic moment with a pet influenced narrative approaches in European art, particularly in works exploring quiet domesticity. The work's presence in the Statens Museum for Kunst collection has ensured continued scholarly attention to this phase of Danish Baroque art, reinforcing its status as a key example of the period's evolving portrait genre.
Overview
The work, titled Lady with a Dog, is an oil painting that depicts a seated woman cradling a small dog. She is rendered against a dark, unadorned backdrop that isolates her figure, allowing the viewer to focus on her calm expression and the intimate pose. The composition is simple yet deliberate, emphasizing the relationship between the sitter and her pet.
Context
While specific details about the artist or date are not provided, the use of chiaroscuro and the intimate genre scene align the work with 17th‑ to 18th‑century European portrait traditions. Such paintings often highlighted personal virtues and the bond between humans and animals, reflecting contemporary attitudes toward domestic life and modest piety, as hinted by the cross pendant.
Artist & collection
Bildnis einer Hofdame
portrait of Maria Magdalena von Nassau-Siegen
Bildnis der Louise Hollandine, Prinzessin von der Pfalz
Bildnis einer Hofdame
Bildnis der Luise Maria, Tochter des Kurfürsten Friedrich V. von der Pfalz
Portrait of a young woman
Unbekannte Dame
Bildnis einer Dame
Portrait of Anna Sophie von Hessen-Darmstadt, Abbess of Quedlinburg (?)
Hedwig Eleonore, Tochter des Herzogs Friedrich von Holstein-Gotdorp (?)
