Where can I see Portret van een dame?

Portret van een dame is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portret van een dame?

Portret van een dame is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portret van een dame

Portret van een dame is an ivory painting. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is a portrait rendered on a sheet of ivory, showing a seated woman against a dark backdrop.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work is an ivory miniature portrait dated to 1789, produced in France and now held in the Rijksmuseum.

The work is an ivory miniature portrait dated to 1789, produced in France and now held in the Rijksmuseum. It measures approximately 6.2 cm in height and 5.4 cm in width, and is classified as a painting within the portrait genre. The piece depicts an unidentified woman, who is recorded as the main subject.

No further details regarding her clothing, attributes, or symbolic elements are provided in the sources, so the discussion of meaning remains limited to the identification of the sitter as a female portrait subject.

History & Provenance

The painting titled Portret van een dame is an anonymous ivory portrait created in 1789 in France. It was produced as an artwork and is classified as a portrait. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. Its dimensions are 6.2 cm in height and 5.4 cm in width.

The painting Portret van een dame, created in 1789 and executed in ivory, is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. It measures 6.2 cm in height and 5.4 cm in width, originating from France and depicting a woman. The work has been exhibited as part of the museum's display of portraits.

Overview

The work is a portrait rendered on a sheet of ivory, showing a seated woman against a dark backdrop. She is presented in a three‑quarter view, her long, curly hair gathered in an up‑do with loose tendrils framing her face. The figure wears a white gown with a low neckline, accented by a blue sash at the waist and a single brooch on her left shoulder.

Technique & Style

Executed on ivory, the artist employs a delicate layering of translucent pigments, allowing the smooth surface to convey subtle tonal shifts. Chiaroscuro modelling creates depth, with light falling on the face and garment while the background recedes into shadow. The fine brushwork captures the texture of hair and fabric, while the ivory base lends a luminous quality to the overall image.