Artwork

Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters (1671-1753), sister of Anna van Citters

Portrait of Josina Clara van Citters (1671-1753), sister of Anna van Citters is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Simon Du Bois. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Simon Du Bois’s 1697 oil portrait presents Josina Clara van Citters, a Dutch woman of the late seventeenth century. Rendered against a dark backdrop, the sitter gazes directly at the viewer, her expression solemn. The work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age approach to portraiture, emphasizing realism and a restrained palette, and is presently housed in the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

Josina Clara van Citters (1671‑1753) is identified as the sister of Anna van Citters, suggesting a familial commission. Her attire—a brown dress trimmed with a white ruffle and a red cloth draped over the left shoulder—signals modest status while the direct eye contact conveys personal presence and dignity typical of private portraiture of the period.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, Du Bois employs a subdued tonal range, allowing the figure to emerge from a somber background. The brushwork captures the texture of fabric and the sheen of hair, while subtle chiaroscuro models the face, creating a three‑dimensional effect without ornamental excess, aligning with the restrained aesthetic of Dutch portraiture.

History & Provenance

Born in Flanders, Du Bois worked in England from 1685 until his death in 1706, yet this portrait adheres to Dutch conventions. After remaining in private hands for centuries, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of late‑seventeenth‑century portraiture.

Context

The portrait reflects the cross‑regional artistic exchanges of the late 1600s, where a Flemish‑born artist active in England produced work for Dutch patrons. Its composition mirrors contemporary trends that favored individualized likenesses over allegorical symbolism, situating the sitter within the broader social fabric of the Dutch Golden Age.

Artist & collection

Artist

Simon Du Bois

Simon Du Bois or Dubois (baptized 26 July 1632, Antwerp – buried 26 May 1706, London) ), was a portrait painter, of Flemish or Dutch origin, active in England from 1685 until his death.