Artwork

Portrait of Margaretha Mertha (Merthen), the Wife of Heinrich Pilgram

Portrait of Margaretha Mertha (Merthen), the Wife of Heinrich Pilgram is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Nicolas Neufchatel. It dates from 1561 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

About this work

Overview

Painted in 1561 by Nicolas Neufchatel, a prominent Flemish portraitist working in Germany, *Portrait of Margaretha Mertha (Merthen), the Wife of Heinrich Pilgram* is an oil-on-panel work exemplifying Northern Renaissance portraiture. It is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts Margaretha Mertha, wife of Heinrich Pilgram, in a formal, solemn pose, conveying her social status through meticulous details of attire and demeanor. The simplicity of the background emphasizes her individual presence.

Technique & Style

Characterized by the Northern Renaissance's emphasis on realism, the painting features detailed, lifelike rendering of Margaretha's attire and surroundings, with a focus on texture and spatial depth, achieved through Neufchatel's skilled use of oil paint on panel.

History & Provenance

Created in 1561, the work is attributed to Nicolas Neufchatel, known by his pseudonym 'Lucidel', highlighting his stature among 1560s portrait painters. The painting is currently housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nicolas Neufchatel

Nicolas Neufchatel or Neufchâtel (c. 1527 – c. 1590), known as Lucidel, was a Flemish painter and draughtsman. He worked in Germany and was noted as one of the leading portrait painters of the 1560s.