Artwork
Portrait of a Young Woman
Portrait of a Young Woman is an oil painting. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The artist employs a formal, frontal composition to depict a young woman, focusing on her facial features and the details of her coif.
Created in 1535 by an anonymous Netherlandish painter, this portrait is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 26.7 cm in height and 21 cm in width, adhering to the intimate scale typical of the genre. The artist employs a formal, frontal composition to depict a young woman, focusing on her facial features and the details of her coif.
The handling of the oil medium allows for precise rendering of the sitter's expression and attire, characteristic of mid-16th-century Northern European portraiture. The painting remains in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having been part of the Jules Bache collection, and is classified strictly as a portrait painting.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Young Woman was painted in 1535 by an anonymous Netherlandish artist working in oil on panel. Its dimensions are 26.7 × 21 cm, and it depicts a woman in contemporary coif. The work entered the collection of Jules Bache, who donated it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view. The painting’s creation is documented only by its date and medium; no commissioning details have been recorded.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Prior to its acquisition by the museum, the work was owned by Jules Bache. Created around 1535 by an anonymous Netherlandish artist, the oil-on-panel portrait depicts a young woman wearing a coif.
The provided sources confirm the work's current institutional location and previous private ownership but do not list specific inventory accession numbers or detail any public exhibition history.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Young Woman, presents a seated figure in a moment of quiet contemplation. The artist focuses intently on the subject, whose vibrant red dress and elaborate hat stand out against a dark, unadorned background. The composition draws the viewer's eye to her face and the intricate details of her attire, creating an intimate and focused portrayal of the individual.
Subject & Meaning
The woman is depicted holding a small, delicate white handkerchief, suggesting a sense of refinement. Her attire includes a deep red dress accented with black lace at the neck and cuffs, conveying a certain elegance. Her hair is neatly arranged, covered by a distinctive red-and-gold hat. These elements collectively emphasize her composed demeanor and the careful presentation of her person.
Artist & collection
- Portrait of a young woman
Portrait of a woman (1548)
Portrait of a Young Woman
Portrait of a Young Woman. Princess Emily of Saxony?
Weibliches Bildnis
Portrait of a Young Woman
Elisabeth of Austria
Anne de Pisseleu (1508–1576), Duchesse d'Étampes
Portrait of a Young Lady
Archduchess Anna (1549-1580), Daughter of Emperor Maximilian II
Portrait of a Young Woman
Portrait of Eleanor of Austria, Archduchess of Austria
