Artifact World Gallery
Get the iOS app

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman, oil, 1600
Portrait of a Woman, oil, 1600

Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

A woman sits in a lavish flowered dress trimmed with pearls and a broad collar, a small dog at her left and a red curtain behind her. She wears a large brooch, a pearl necklace, and a feather tucked behind her ear, her hair elaborately styled. Made around 1600, the portrait is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a woman identified as Queen Elizabeth I, based on her characteristic regalia and the work's date of 1600, during her reign.

The painting depicts a woman identified as Queen Elizabeth I, based on her characteristic regalia and the work's date of 1600, during her reign. The subject is adorned with elaborate items emblematic of royalty and status: a lace ruff, pearl necklace, brooch, bracelet, ring, and a hand fan, along with a rose and rosette. These accoutrements, combined with the formal pose and rich cape, signify the queen's authority, wealth, and divine right to rule.

The portrait thus functions as a state image meant to project Elizabeth's power, virtue, and majesty, reinforcing her iconic role as the Virgin Queen of England.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil on panel, a common support for early 17th-century English portraiture. The composition centers on a woman, identified as Elizabeth I, dressed in an elaborate costume including a lace ruff, pearl necklace and bracelet, brooch, ring, and a hand fan with feathers and roses. The formal style emphasizes intricate detailing of textiles and jewelry, characteristic of court portraiture of the period. The dimensions are 113 by 88.3 cm.

Overview

This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Woman, presents a seated female figure adorned in rich attire. The composition emphasizes her luxurious garments and accessories, set against a subdued backdrop with a red curtain. The artwork's primary focus is on conveying the sitter's elevated social standing and wealth through detailed depiction of her elaborate dress and jewelry, creating an impression of considerable grandeur. The work is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Portrait of a Lady of the Wentworth Family (Probably Jane Cheyne)
Portrait of a Lady of the Wentworth Family (Probably Jane Cheyne), Hans Eworth

Artist & collection

VISUALLY SIMILAR

Similarity 100 percent

MORE: BEAUTIES & FIGURES (ASIAN)

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is associated with Early Baroque Italian.