Oil on panel
Dated upper right: “AETA 40. An° 1631”

On the RKD: https://rkd.nl/images/163387

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Painted in 1631, this striking portrait exemplifies Nicolaes Pickenoy’s refined approach to portraiture at the height of his career. The sitter, aged forty according to the inscription, is depicted with a serene yet commanding presence. Dressed in sober but luxurious black attire with a prominent lace-trimmed millstone ruff and matching cuffs, she embodies the modest dignity associated with the Dutch upper class of the time.

Her elegant gloves, delicately held in one hand, and the subtle shimmer of her satin gown speak to her wealth and social standing. The restrained palette enhances the sitter’s pale complexion and the brilliant white of her ruff and cap, drawing the viewer's attention to her composed expression. The careful rendering of textures—from the softness of the fabric to the crispness of the lace—showcases Pickenoy’s technical mastery and his ability to convey both status and character through visual restraint.

This work stands as a testament to the Dutch Golden Age tradition of formal portraiture, where identity and wealth were meticulously captured in paint.