Bartholomeus van der Helst
Lady in Black
| Artist: | Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613 - 1670) |
| Title: | Lady in Black |
| Date: | Ca 1649 |
| Technique: Material: |
oil canvas |
| Height (cm): | 97.0 |
| Width (cm): | 82.0 |
| Description: | Bartholomeus van der Helst, who was born in Haarlem as an innkeeper’s son, became one of the favourite portraitists of Amsterdam high society in the 1640s, providing successful competition to Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn. The unknown lady in the painting was most likely a member of the elite of the city of Amsterdam. She is dressed appropriately for a respected citizen, wearing a black silk dress decorated with white lace. This kind of lace was in vogue in the Netherlands in the 1640s and is therefore known in fashion history as Dutch lace, even though it was actually produced in Flanders. The attire, jewellery and an Oriental fashion item – a fan made of ostrich feathers in the lady’s right hand – inform the viewer of the high status of the depicted person. The painting originally formed a pair with the portrait of the lady’s husband, both having been made in celebration of their marriage. Acquired in 1983; belonged to the collection of Heinrich von Dehn at Kiikla manor house in Virumaa. |
| Related categories: | Foreign Art |
| Copyright notice: | Art Museum of Estonia |
| AME collection: | Foreign paintings collection |
| Collection number: | VM 907 |
| File info: |
Source type: digital photography File type: TIF File size: 21.94MB Resolution: 2536*3020px @ 300dpi |
