Artwork
Portrait of Magdalena van Werdenburg (1464–1538), Countess of Egmond and wife of Jan (1438–1516), First Count of Egmond;
Portrait of Magdalena van Werdenburg (1464–1538), Countess of Egmond and wife of Jan (1438–1516), First Count of Egmond; is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of Alkmaar. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This portrait, painted in 1510 by the Dutch artist known as the Master of Alkmaar, depicts Magdalena van Werdenburg (1464–1538). She was the Countess of Egmond and wife to Jan, the First Count of Egmond. Executed on a wood panel, the work is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
Her hands gently hold a patterned red and gold cloth, a detail that adds a subtle richness to her otherwise restrained attire, reflecting her noble status.
The painting presents Magdalena van Werdenburg, a prominent figure of the early sixteenth century, in a formal, seated pose. She wears a dark gown with a white collar and cuffs, her hair covered by a simple white cap, and a gold ring adorns her finger. Her hands gently hold a patterned red and gold cloth, a detail that adds a subtle richness to her otherwise restrained attire, reflecting her noble status.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a focused approach in this portrait, using a dark, unadorned background to emphasize the sitter's face and hands. The palette is generally subdued, with smooth brushstrokes contributing to a quiet, detailed rendering of Magdalena's features and attire. While the Master of Alkmaar's larger works, such as the Seven Works of Mercy, are known for their bright hues and expressive figures, this portrait demonstrates a more restrained and intimate style.
Context
The Master of Alkmaar was an active painter in the Netherlands during the early sixteenth century, primarily associated with the town of Alkmaar. His most recognized works include a series of panel paintings depicting the Seven Works of Mercy, created in 1504 for the church of Saint Lawrence in Alkmaar. This portrait of Magdalena van Werdenburg exemplifies his skill in capturing individual likenesses within the artistic traditions of the Northern Renaissance.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of Alkmaar was a Dutch painter active around Alkmaar at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
Triptych with the adoration of the Magi (centre panel and inner wings), St Antony Abbot (outer left wing) and St Adrian (outer right wing)
Portrait of Jan III, First Count of Egmond (1438–1516) and his wife Magdalena van Werdenburg, Countess of Egmond (1464–1538)
The Seven Works of Mercy
Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece
The Seven Works of Mercy
Panel of an altarpiece with Jesus disputing with the doctors in the Temple (inner wing) and Christ appearing to his mother (outer wing)
