Who painted Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine?

Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine was painted by Anthony van Dyck in 1620.

Where can I see Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine?

Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine?

Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine

Anthony van Dyck , 1620

Portrait of Margaret of Lorraine is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Anthony van Dyck. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

This 1620 canvas by Anthony van Dyck portrays Marguerite of Lorraine, a member of the European nobility. The work dates from a period when the Flemish artist had already established himself as an independent painter following his training with Peter Paul Rubens, and was ascending to prominence among continental courts. The painting now resides in the Alte Pinakothek collection.

Subject & Meaning

A pearl necklace encircles her neck, while her right hand rests upon her stomach in a gesture that may suggest modesty, status, or perhaps pregnancy.

The sitter appears as a young woman with curly, shoulder-length hair, her face turned slightly right with an unsmiling, composed expression. A pearl necklace encircles her neck, while her right hand rests upon her stomach in a gesture that may suggest modesty, status, or perhaps pregnancy. Her left arm bends at the elbow, its hand concealed from view. The pose conveys aristocratic restraint and cultivated self-possession.

Technique & Style

Van Dyck depicts his subject in a white dress with a low neckline and voluminous sleeves, embellished with pearls and an imposing bow at the chest. The pale background sets off the darker tonalities of the garment. The artist employs chiaroscuro—that dramatic interplay of light and shadow characteristic of Baroque painting—to model form and create spatial depth, lending the figure substantial three-dimensional presence.

Artist & collection

Artist

Anthony van Dyck

Sir Anthony van Dyck (; Dutch: Antoon van Dijck ; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist, who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy.