Who painted Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher?

Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher was painted by Abraham Lambertsz van den Tempel in 1669.

Where can I see Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher?

Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher?

Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher?

Museum-quality prints of Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher

Abraham Lambertsz van den Tempel , 1669

Machteld Bas (d 1681). Wife of Abraham de Visscher is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham Lambertsz van den Tempel. It dates from 1669 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Painted in 1669 by Abraham van den Tempel, this oil portrait depicts Machteld Bas, the wife of Abraham de Visscher.

About this work

Overview

Abraham Lambertsz van den Tempel’s 1669 oil portrait depicts Machteld Bas, who died in 1681 and was married to Abraham de Visscher. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and presents the sitter in a formal, half‑length pose typical of Dutch portraiture of the period.

Subject & Meaning

Machteld Bas is shown wearing a sober black dress with a crisp white collar and cuffs, a dark hat, and a handheld fan. Her expression is composed, with a faint smile that conveys both dignity and modesty, reflecting the social expectations of a respectable merchant’s wife in the late seventeenth‑century Netherlands.

Technique & Style

The painting employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using a dark, almost black background to isolate the figure and accentuate the illuminated facial features. A red curtain behind her frames a distant landscape of trees and a sunset‑tinged sky, while a few roses placed at the edge of the canvas add a subtle decorative touch.

History & Provenance

Created in 1669, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the source). It remains a documented example of van den Tempel’s work for the Dutch bourgeoisie, illustrating the artist’s skill in rendering texture and light.