Artwork
Portrait of Mertijntje van Ceters (1609-24)
Portrait of Mertijntje van Ceters (1609-24) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1623 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is an oil painting dated between 1609 and 1624, depicting a seated woman dressed in a dark, richly textured gown.
About this work
History & Provenance
The provided sources do not contain specific information regarding the painting's accession number or a record of its past exhibitions.
The Portrait of Mertijntje van Ceters is an anonymous oil painting on panel created in 1623 in the Northern Low Countries. The work measures 103.9 cm in height and 76.5 cm in width. Historical records indicate the piece was owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters.
It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, having been associated with the Instituut Collectie Nederland. The painting depicts a portrait subject from the early seventeenth century, though the specific identity of the artist remains unattributed in available records.
The Portrait of Mertijntje van Ceters is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. The work is also associated with the Instituut Collectie Nederland. It is an anonymous oil painting on panel created in 1623, with dimensions of 103.9 cm in height and 76.5 cm in width. The painting was previously owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters.
The provided sources do not contain specific information regarding the painting's accession number or a record of its past exhibitions.
Overview
The work is an oil painting dated between 1609 and 1624, depicting a seated woman dressed in a dark, richly textured gown. She wears a wide, lace collar and cuffs, and her sleeves are cut to expose a lighter underlayer. A handheld fan rests in one hand, while a modest coat of arms appears in the upper corner against an otherwise plain background.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents a member of the Dutch middle class, likely Mertijntje van Ceters, whose attire signals affluence through costly lace and dark fabric. The inclusion of the fan and heraldic device suggests personal identity and social status, while the restrained setting emphasizes the sitter’s individual presence rather than narrative context.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated skin and hands with the deep tones of the dress to model form. Fine brushwork renders the intricate lace, and the slashed sleeves reveal a secondary fabric, adding visual depth. The subdued background focuses attention on the figure, a common compositional choice in early‑17th‑century Dutch portraiture.
Artist & collection
