Artwork

Portrait of Machtelt Bas (?-1681)

Portrait of Machtelt Bas (?-1681), by Unknown, unspecified, 1651
Portrait of Machtelt Bas (?-1681), by Unknown, unspecified, 1651

Portrait of Machtelt Bas (?-1681) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This painting is an unfinished portrait of a woman, believed to be Machtelt Bas, who died in 1681.

About this work

Overview

This painting is an unfinished portrait of a woman, believed to be Machtelt Bas, who died in 1681. The work captures her standing before a balustrade, with a family crest visible in the upper corner.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is depicted wearing a dark dress and standing beside a stone railing adorned with roses. The portrait is thought to be paired with another work, suggesting the sitter was part of a couple, possibly married to Abraham de Visscher.

Technique & Style

The portrait is notable for its unfinished state, with certain features, such as one of the sitter's eyes, left in a sketch-like condition. This provides insight into the artist's working process, revealing the stages of creation typically concealed in finished works.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.