Artwork
Portrait of a woman aged 24
Portrait of a woman aged 24 is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Herman van der Mast. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The 1594 oil-on-panel portrait shows a young woman, aged twenty‑four, rendered in a restrained palette of black garments, white lace collar and headpiece, and a muted brown backdrop. She holds a gold chain, and the painting is part of the Rijksmuseum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter’s age is explicitly noted in the title, indicating a commemorative function, likely marking a personal milestone such as a marriage or coming of age. The gold chain may symbolize wealth or a gift, while the modest attire reflects contemporary standards of modesty for a woman of her status.
Technique & Style
Executed in the late‑Renaissance mannerist idiom, the work displays meticulous attention to surface texture, especially in the lace and fabric folds. Van der Mast employed layered glazing to achieve subtle tonal transitions, creating a realistic flesh tone and a luminous quality in the white accessories.
History & Provenance
Herman van der Mast, a Dutch painter trained in the workshop of Frans Floris, created the portrait during his early independent period. After passing through private collections, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display.
Context
The portrait reflects the Floris workshop’s emphasis on precise figure drawing and the growing demand for individualized likenesses among the Dutch bourgeoisie of the late sixteenth century. Its restrained composition aligns with contemporary portrait conventions while showcasing the artist’s skill in rendering material detail.
Artist & collection
Artist
Herman van der Mast (c. 1550 – 1610) was a Dutch Renaissance painter from the Netherlands. What little we know about Mast are the notes related by Karel van Mander in his Schilder-boeck, who mentioned him as part of a…
