Portrait of a woman

anonymous, c. 1540 - c. 1550

Portret van een vrouw. Buste, driekwart naar links. Tegen een achtergrond van bomen. Zie ook de pendant van SK-A-2107.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-2108
  • Dimensionsdepth 3.8 cm, support: height 27.2 cm x width 22.2 cm x thickness 0.5 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on panel

anonymous

Portrait of a woman

Northern Netherlands, c. 1540 - c. 1550

Technical notes

The support is a single vertically grained oak panel, 0.6 cm thick, which is slightly bevelled at the top and bottom. Dendrochronology has shown that the plank came from the same tree as that used for the pendant SK-A-2108, and that the youngest heartwood ring was formed in 1516. The panel could have been ready for use by 1527, but a date in or after 1541 is more likely. Originally the reverse of the panel was probably covered with a light-coloured ground and reddish brown marbling, only some traces of which still remain. The ground on the front of the painting is probably of a light colour (off-white), and is smooth. Although there is much retouching along the edges, remains of an unpainted edge and traces of a barbe are present on the left and right sides. A white 'imprimatura' with broad brushstrokes, visible through the paint layers, was probably applied over the ground layer. An underdrawing could not be revealed with infrared reflectography. The figure was reserved.

Scientific examination and reports

  • condition report: I. Verslype, RMA, 1 maart 2006
  • infrared reflectography: M. Leeflang, RKD/RMA, no. NGa, 11 april 2006
  • dendrochronology: P. Klein, RMA, 26 juni 2006

Condition

Fair. There are discoloured retouchings and much overpainting in the face. The varnish has yellowed and has been partially removed.

Conservation

  • conservator unknown, 1903: complete restoration
  • H.H. Mertens, 1958: complete restoration

Provenance

…; from the dealer F. Kleinberger, Paris, fl. 1,930, to the museum, April 1903

Object number: SK-A-2108

The artist

Biography

Anonymous, northern Netherlands

Entry

See SK-A-2107.

Literature

See SK-A-2107.

Download Bibliography (PDF)

Collection catalogues

See SK-A-2107.

Citation

D. Meuwissen, 2010, 'anonymous, Portrait of a woman, Northern Netherlands, c. 1540 - c. 1550', in J.P. Filedt Kok (ed.), Early Netherlandish Paintings, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/20025865

(accessed 8 December 2025 13:59:08).