Who painted Portrait of an Old Woman?

Portrait of an Old Woman was painted by Balthasar Denner.

Where can I see Portrait of an Old Woman?

Portrait of an Old Woman is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of an Old Woman?

Portrait of an Old Woman is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of an Old Woman

Balthasar Denner

Portrait of an Old Woman is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Balthasar Denner. It is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1750 by German portraitist Balthasar Denner, this small-scale work presents an elderly woman rendered on a copper support. The figure occupies the central space against an unlit backdrop, allowing the viewer’s attention to rest on the nuanced depiction of age and demeanor. The painting belongs to the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is an aged woman whose pallid complexion and pronounced furrows convey a lifetime of experience. She wears a plain white veil that falls loosely over her shoulders, and her expression combines a restrained smile with a solemn gaze, suggesting dignity tempered by the inevitability of aging.

Technique & Style

Denner employed the fine grain of copper to achieve an exceptional level of detail, particularly in the rendering of fine facial hair and the delicate folds of the veil. The illumination follows a chiaroscuro scheme: a soft, focused light models the face and cloth, while the surrounding darkness recedes, creating a three‑dimensional effect characteristic of late Rococo portraiture.

History & Provenance

The portrait remained in private hands before entering the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s German painting collection. Its acquisition reflects the 19th‑century Russian interest in Western European portraiture and the museum’s effort to represent the meticulous realism of Denner’s oeuvre.