Artwork

Portrait of a Young Woman

Portrait of a Young Woman, by Corneille de Lyon, tempera, 1560
Portrait of a Young Woman, by Corneille de Lyon, tempera, 1560

Portrait of a Young Woman is a tempera painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Corneille de Lyon. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum. Created around 1560, this tempera work presents a young woman rendered with careful attention to facial detail.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1560, this tempera work presents a young woman rendered with careful attention to facial detail. The composition centers on her calm, composed expression, inviting the viewer to consider her presence within the modest scale of the painting. The piece is part of the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, where it is displayed among other works of the period.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait focuses on a single female sitter, whose serene demeanor suggests a private, perhaps domestic, setting rather than a formal courtly portrait. The lack of overt symbols leaves her identity ambiguous, allowing the work to serve as a study of individual character and the conventions of mid‑sixteenth‑century portraiture.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera, the artist achieved fine gradations of tone and a smooth surface that conveys subtle shifts in light across the face. The medium’s quick‑drying nature required precise brushwork, resulting in a crisp delineation of features and a restrained palette that enhances the sense of depth without relying on heavy modeling.

History & Provenance

Attributed to Corneille de Lyon, a painter known for his small‑scale portraits, the work entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century. Its provenance prior to museum ownership is not extensively documented, reflecting the common challenges of tracing works by artists whose output was often produced for private patrons.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Corneille de Lyon

Artist

Corneille de Lyon

Corneille de Lyon was a Dutch painter of portraits who was active in Lyon, France, from 1533 until his death. In France and the Netherlands he is also still known as Corneille de La Haye after his birthplace, The Hague.

Brooklyn Museum

Museum

Brooklyn Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Brooklyn Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.