Artwork

Portrait of Maria Magdalena Stavenisse, Wife of Jacob de Witte of Elkerzee, Councilor of Zierikzee

Portrait of Maria Magdalena Stavenisse, Wife of Jacob de Witte of Elkerzee, Councilor of Zierikzee is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1726 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

The parrot isn’t just decoration, it was a rare, expensive pet in the Netherlands back then, showing off the family’s wealth.

You see a woman in a dark dress standing beside a table. She holds a bright green parrot on her right hand. A soft light falls on her face and the bird.

This portrait was painted around 1726, but no one knows who the artist is. The parrot isn’t just decoration, it was a rare, expensive pet in the Netherlands back then, showing off the family’s wealth. The woman’s calm gaze and the bird’s sharp eyes make the scene feel alive.

To see more quiet Dutch portraits like this, explore the Rijksmuseum.

Overview

This portrait depicts Maria Magdalena Stavenisse, wife of Jacob de Witte of Elkerzee, a councilor of Zierikzee, in a half-length pose beside a table. Created circa 1726, the artist remains unknown.

Subject & Meaning

Maria Magdalena Stavenisse is shown holding a bright green parrot on her right hand. The exotic bird, a rare and costly pet in 18th-century Netherlands, symbolizes the family's wealth. Her calm expression contrasts with the bird's alert gaze, imbuing the scene with a sense of quiet vitality.

Technique & Style

The portrait features a soft, focused light illuminating the subject's face and the parrot, set against a darker background. The overall composition reflects characteristic elements of Dutch portraiture from the period.

History & Provenance

Painted around 1726, the work's provenance and artist attribution are currently unknown. It is now part of a collection that can be contextualized alongside similar works at the Rijksmuseum.