Who painted Portrait of a woman?

Portrait of a woman was painted by Jan Rustem in 1808.

Where can I see Portrait of a woman?

Portrait of a woman is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

Artwork

Portrait of a woman

Portrait of a woman is an oil painting by Jan Rustem. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1808 by Jan Rustem, an Armenian‑born artist who worked in the Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth, this oil on canvas presents a single female sitter. The painting belongs to the National Museum in Warsaw’s collection and exemplifies Rustem’s focus on portraiture during his tenure as a professor at Vilnius University.

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays a woman with dark hair gathered in an up‑do, wearing a dress accented by a pink ribbon across her shoulders and a modest necklace. Her serene expression and steady gaze to the right convey a sense of composure and refined poise, typical of early‑19th‑century portrait conventions.

Technique & Style

Rustem employs a restrained palette, setting the figure against a dark, muted background that heightens the contrast with the lighter tones of the dress and accessories. Fine brushwork renders the facial features with meticulous detail, while the handling of light suggests a subtle modelling of form without overt dramatization.

History & Provenance

The portrait entered the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Rustem’s career, marked by commissions of notable contemporaries and academic appointments, situates the painting within his broader output of elite portraiture produced in the early 1800s.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jan Rustem

Jan Rustem (Armenian: Յան Ռուստամ; 1762 – 21 June 1835) was a painter of Armenian ethnicity who lived and worked in the territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.