Artwork
Portrait of a young woman with three children
Portrait of a young woman with three children is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Wallerant Vaillant. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The image serves as a formal representation of a family unit, capturing the likenesses of the subjects in oil on canvas.
The work depicts a woman accompanied by three children, as identified in the subject description. Created in 1650 by Wallerant Vaillant, the painting falls within the genre of portraiture. While the specific identities of the figures are not detailed in the available records, the composition focuses on the group dynamic of the mother and her offspring.
The image serves as a formal representation of a family unit, capturing the likenesses of the subjects in oil on canvas.
Technique & Style
Created in 1650, this work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The piece measures 63 cm in height and 77 cm in width. As a portrait by Wallerant Vaillant, the painting depicts a woman accompanied by three children, adhering to the genre conventions of the period through its use of oil paint to render the figures and composition.
History & Provenance
The painting Portrait of a young woman with three children was created in 1650 by the artist Wallerant Vaillant. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 63 cm in height and 77 cm in width. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.
No further details regarding its original commission, specific ownership history prior to its museum acquisition, or the circumstances of its creation are provided in the available records.
Overview
Wallerant Vaillant, a Dutch painter active in the mid‑17th century, executed this oil on canvas portrait circa 1650. The work presents a seated woman accompanied by three children and exemplifies the portrait tradition of the Dutch Golden Age. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam.
Context
Vaillant is better known for his role in developing the mezzotint print technique, yet his painted portraits reveal his command of oil handling and compositional balance. This work reflects the period’s interest in portraying private life with realism, aligning with contemporary Dutch genre and portrait conventions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wallerant Vaillant (30 May 1623 – 28 August 1677) was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age and one of the first artists to use the mezzotint technique, which he probably helped to develop.
- Portrait of a Young Woman with Three Children
Virgin and Child with St Anne
Untitled
A Mother Giving her Child the Breast
Familienbildnis
The daughters of Cecrops find Erechthonius
Family scene
Concert
A Lady and a Child with a Serving Maid
Portrait of Anna van Thielen, wife of the painter Theodoor Rombouts with their daughter
The players
The Visit to the Nursery