Artwork

Portrait of a woman, probably Sophia Anna van Pipenpoy (c. 1618-70), Countess of Schellart

Portrait of a woman, probably Sophia Anna van Pipenpoy (c. 1618-70), Countess of Schellart is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Wybrand de Geest. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Sophia Anna van Pipenpoy, identified as the main subject and likely the Countess of Schellart. The composition includes specific iconographic elements such as a curtain, a dog, and a garden setting. These features, combined with the portrait genre, serve to represent the sitter's status and identity within the context of 17th-century portraiture.

Technique & Style

These components are rendered within the portrait genre, utilizing the material qualities of oil paint applied to a textile support to achieve the final image.

Executed in 1659, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work features a full-length depiction of its subject, identified as Sophia Anna van Pipenpoy, Countess of Schellart. The composition incorporates specific environmental and symbolic elements, including a garden setting, a curtain, and a dog positioned alongside the figure.

These components are rendered within the portrait genre, utilizing the material qualities of oil paint applied to a textile support to achieve the final image.

History & Provenance

The portrait was created by Wybrand de Geest in 1659 as an oil painting on canvas, measuring 240.5 cm by 160.5 cm, depicting Sophia Anna van Pipenpoy, Countess of Schellart. It was owned by Abraham Bredius before entering the Rijksmuseum collection, where it remains. The work is classified as a portrait, and its provenance traces from Bredius's ownership to the museum's acquisition, reflecting a clear documented ownership chain.

Overview

This oil painting by Wybrand de Geest, created in 1659, presents a formal depiction of a woman identified as Sophia Anna van Pipenpoy, Countess of Schellart. The portrait, which includes a small dog and a draped curtain, exemplifies Dutch portraiture from the mid-17th century. It is presently part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum.