Who painted Portrait of a lady?

Portrait of a lady was painted by Adriaen Thomasz. Key in 1577.

Where can I see Portrait of a lady?

Portrait of a lady is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Portrait of a lady?

Portrait of a lady is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a lady

Adriaen Thomasz. Key , 1577

Portrait of a lady is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen Thomasz. Key. It dates from 1577 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. Adriaen Thomasz.

About this work

Overview

Adriaen Thomasz. Key, a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the late 1500s, produced an oil portrait of an unidentified woman around 1577. Executed in the style of the Dutch Golden Age, the work is now part of the National Museum’s collection in Warsaw. It exemplifies Key’s reputation for refined portraiture and his engagement with contemporary artistic trends.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown wearing a dark, patterned gown accented by a prominent white ruff and gold‑threaded sleeves. A delicate chain, terminating in a small pendant, rests in her hand. The plain background isolates her features, emphasizing a composed expression that suggests a person of social standing, though her identity remains unknown.

Technique & Style

Key employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing light to model the face and ruff with a three‑dimensional quality. The oil medium renders the textures of fabric and metalwork with fine detail, while the restrained palette focuses attention on the contrast between the luminous collar and the darker attire.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1577, the painting entered the National Museum in Warsaw’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has been displayed as a representative example of late‑16th‑century Flemish portraiture. Its attribution to Key reflects scholarly consensus based on stylistic analysis and archival references linking the work to his Antwerp workshop.

Artist & collection

Artist

Adriaen Thomasz. Key

Adriaen Thomasz. Key (c. 1544 in Antwerp – after 1589 in Antwerp) was a Flemish painter of portraits and religious paintings, a draughtsman and a printmaker. He worked for a while in the Antwerp workshop of the…