Portrait of a Lady

The painting typifies the art of Nicolaesz Eliasz. Pickenoy, who was the most sought-after portraitist in Amsterdam in the second quarter of the 17th century. It documents this artist´s ability to record characteristic features in a young face, co far unaffected by life, and in the presentation of the lady´s figure to express her social status. The originally sober black Calvinist garment expresses luxury and refined taste here: it is decorated with rich gold embroidery and complemented with rare lace and a collar made of fine batiste.