Artwork
Woman with a Mirror (dummy board)
Woman with a Mirror (dummy board) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This painting shows a woman in a long, white dress with a green shawl, holding a mirror. She wears a pearl necklace and has long, dark hair. The woman's dress has a lace trim, and she is standing in front of a plain background. The mirror she holds is oval-shaped and reflects light. The painting is a good example of a portrait from the 17th century.
Overview
Woman with a Mirror is a 17th-century portrait painting depicting a woman in a long, white dress with a green shawl, pearl necklace, and long, dark hair, standing against a plain background while holding an oval mirror.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a woman of apparent refinement, engages in a gesture of self-reflection or vanity, hinted at by the mirror. Her attire and accessories (white dress with lace trim, pearl necklace) suggest a certain social status.
Technique & Style
The use of a plain background focuses attention on the subject. The oval mirror introduces a reflective surface, adding depth and light play, characteristic of 17th-century portraiture's attention to detail and symbolism.
History & Provenance
While the painting is identified as a 17th-century work, specific details about its creation, artist, or ownership history are not provided.
Context
This portrait aligns with 17th-century European artistic trends, where symbolism (e.g., mirrors for vanity or introspection) and detailed depictions of attire were common in portraiture.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
