Artwork
Portrait of Catharina Dierquens
Portrait of Catharina Dierquens is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Maes. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.
About this work
She is dressed in an elegant red dress with white lace and pearls, and her dark hair is styled in loose curls.
This painting is a portrait of a woman, likely from the 17th century. She is dressed in an elegant red dress with white lace and pearls, and her dark hair is styled in loose curls. The background is dark, with some trees and a cloudy sky visible behind her.
The woman's face is turned slightly to the side, and her expression is calm and serene. Her eyes seem to be looking directly at the viewer, and her lips are pursed slightly. The overall effect is one of quiet dignity and refinement.
The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the painting. The woman's face and hands are illuminated, while the background is dark and shadowy. This technique adds to the overall sense of drama and tension in the painting. Next, explore the works of Nicolaes Maes.
Overview
Portrait of Catharina Dierquens is a 1690 oil painting by Nicolaes Maes, a Dutch artist trained under Rembrandt. The work is part of the Dutch Golden Age collection at the Mauritshuis.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Catharina Dierquens, a woman of apparent refinement, dressed in a red gown adorned with white lace and pearls, conveying an aura of quiet dignity through her calm expression and direct gaze.
Technique & Style
Maes employed chiaroscuro to create depth, illuminating the subject's face and hands while submerging the background in shadow, enhancing the overall sense of dimensionality and serenity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1690, the painting is attributed to Maes's period before establishing himself in Amsterdam, possibly reflecting his early style developed during his time in Dordrecht.
Context
As a product of the Dutch Golden Age, the portrait exemplifies the era's flourishing artistic production in the Netherlands, with Maes contributing through his specialization in portraits and genre scenes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaes Maes (January 1634 – December 1693; buried 24 December 1693) was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes, portraits, religious compositions and the occasional still life.
Portrait of Anna Maria Hoeufft (1646-1715), wife of Jan Boudaen Courten
Portrait of a Woman
Kuningatar Ulrika Eleonora vanhempi
Naisen muotokuva
Alida de Lange, Wife of Johan Rammelman
Portrait of Maria Schaep (1658-1725), wife of Hendrick Bicker
Portrait of Elisabeth van Bebber (1643-1704)
A Lady sitting by a Fountain, possibly Catharina Dierquens
Portrait of Maria de Witte Françoisdr (b 1616). Wife of Johan van Beaumont
Portrait of Justina Johanna Ramskrammer, Wife of Isaac Parker
Jennings-suvun jäsen
Portrait of a Woman