Who painted Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter?

Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter was painted by Peter Brünniche in 1769.

Where can I see Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter?

Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter?

Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter

Peter Brünniche , 1769

Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Peter Brünniche. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Peter Brünniche’s 1769 oil portrait, titled Portrait of a Lady with her little Daughter, presents a mother and child in a domestic interior. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. Rendered in a realistic manner, the composition balances a darkened background with illuminated foreground elements, creating a clear visual focus on the two figures.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a woman in a blue dress and white hat, gently holding the hand of a young girl dressed in white. The mother gazes attentively at her daughter, whose smile lifts her gaze toward the adult. The interaction suggests a tender, protective relationship, emphasizing familial affection within an intimate, private setting.

Technique & Style

Brünniche employs a meticulous, realistic approach, rendering textures of fabric, skin, and objects with fine detail.

Brünniche employs a meticulous, realistic approach, rendering textures of fabric, skin, and objects with fine detail. The use of chiaroscuro—strong contrasts between light and shadow—models the figures and a nearby table with a vase of flowers, giving the scene depth and three‑dimensionality. The palette shifts from dark tones in the background to brighter hues on the subjects, enhancing their prominence.

History & Provenance

Created in 1769, the portrait entered the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark’s national gallery, where it remains on display. The work reflects Brünniche’s activity in the mid‑18th century, a period when Danish portraiture increasingly embraced naturalistic representation and domestic themes.

Context

During the late 1700s, Danish art saw a move toward personal and domestic subjects, departing from grand historical narratives. Brünniche’s focus on a mother‑daughter pair aligns with this trend, offering insight into contemporary notions of family, fashion, and interior décor, as indicated by the blue dress, white hat, and modest furnishings.