Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Verkolje. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Jan Verkolje’s *Portrait of a Woman* (1696) is an oil painting executed on a copper plate. The work portrays a seated lady in an outdoor garden, accompanied by a small dog on a pedestal. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the refined portraiture typical of the Dutch Golden Age.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is dressed in a blue gown with a white lace collar, a yellow shawl draped over her left arm, and holds a dark object that may be a piece of fabric or a small box. The presence of the dog and the tranquil garden setting convey an atmosphere of cultivated elegance and domestic serenity.
Technique & Style
Verkolje employs a subtle chiaroscuro, using light and shadow to model the figures and give depth to the copper surface. The fine rendering of textures—lace, fabric, and foliage—demonstrates his skill in handling the smooth, reflective qualities of copper, which enhances the luminosity of the colors.
History & Provenance
Born in Amsterdam and later active in Delft, Verkolje was a prominent portraitist and genre painter in the late seventeenth century. After his career in the Dutch Republic, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on public display as a representative example of his later work.
Context
The portrait belongs to the Dutch Golden Age, a period when economic prosperity fostered a high demand for personal and family portraiture. Verkolje’s focus on genteel interiors and outdoor leisure scenes reflects contemporary tastes for depicting status, refinement, and the cultivated lifestyle of the urban middle class.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Verkolje or Johannes Verkolje (9 February 1650 (baptized) – 8 May 1693 (buried)) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman and engraver.
