Getty Museum
Portrait of a Lady
Creator
Jan van de VeldeDutch Artist · 1593–1641
All works by this person →Jan van de Velde II came from an artistic family. His father was a celebrated calligrapher and teacher and he was the nephew of Esaias van de Velde, an important landscape painter. Jan also specialized in landscapes but made his mark as a printmaker and draftsman. His engraved landscapes were often based on drawings from nature and his emphasis on naturalistic detail and simple composition influen
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- 1639
- Medium
- Brown ink over black chalk, on vellum
- Culture
- Dutch
- Department
- Drawings
- Institution
- Getty Museum
The identity of the sitter of this bust-length portrait is unknown but her costume indicates that she was a woman of considerable wealth. She wears a dark bodice, trimmed at the neck with a lace ruffle and a fur cape complemented by a fine necklace. An ornate headdress and, above her right temple, a jeweled pin with a plume of osprey feathers, complete her ensemble. Although formally attired, the young woman shows a slight smile and subtly tilts her head. Jan van de Velde's drawing technique derived from his training as an engraver. He used a variety of fine, hatched lines to describe the soft contours of the face and distinctive texture of the fur. In capturing this likeness on a small sheet of precious vellum, Van de Velde also displays a miniaturist's touch; for example, the osprey plume is composed out of a handful of thin, parallel strokes.
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