Artwork
Portrait of Anna Splinter, wife of Johan Hulshout (1623–1687)
Portrait of Anna Splinter, wife of Johan Hulshout (1623–1687) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt. It dates from 1674 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. Created in 1674 by Pieter Cornelisz.
About this work
Overview
The composition balances the sitter’s poised figure with a resting dog, set against a darkened room that opens onto a balcony with a view of trees.
Created in 1674 by Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt, this oil portrait presents Anna Splinter, the spouse of Johan Hulshout. Executed in the refined manner of Leiden’s fijnschilders, the work captures a domestic interior illuminated by subdued lighting. The composition balances the sitter’s poised figure with a resting dog, set against a darkened room that opens onto a balcony with a view of trees.
Subject & Meaning
Anna Splinter is shown in a luminous white gown trimmed with blue ribbons, her attire accented by a pearl necklace and delicate lace. The presence of the calm, long‑haired dog at her feet reinforces themes of fidelity and genteel leisure. The subdued backdrop and modest furnishings suggest a private, well‑appointed household rather than a public display of wealth.
Technique & Style
Van Slingelandt employs the meticulous brushwork characteristic of the fijnschilder tradition, rendering textures—from the sheen of silk to the soft fur of the dog—with precise, layered strokes. Light falls gently on the marble floor and the sitter’s dress, creating subtle reflections that enhance the three‑dimensionality of the scene while maintaining an overall restrained palette.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, where it remains on display. Its attribution to van Slingelandt aligns with his apprenticeship under Gerard Dou and his reputation for intimate, high‑detail portraiture in the Dutch Golden Age. The painting’s documented provenance traces back to the 17th‑century Dutch market before its acquisition by the Irish institution.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Cornelisz. van Slingelandt
Pieter Cornelisz van Slingelandt (20 October 1640 – 7 November 1691) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter who had been a pupil of Gerard Dou and is known as one of Leiden's fijnschilders.
