Portret van een onbekende vrouw

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van een onbekende vrouwPortrait of an Unknown Woman by Pieter van der Meulen captures the elegance of early 19th-century Dutch portraiture Dated within the artist's active period of 1790–1858, this intimate work measures just 219 mm high by 140 mm wide, suggesting it was a personal sketch or preparatory drawing rather than a grand oil painting. Rendered on paper, it exemplifies the period's fondness for delicate, portable mediums like pencil, ink, or watercolor, which allowed artists to create lifelike likenesses quickly and affordably for private collectors. Van der Meulen, a Dutch draftsman known for his precise figure studies, highlights the sitter's poise and attire, reflecting the bourgeois tastes of the Napoleonic and post-Napoleonic eras in the Netherlands. Such small-scale portraits were cherished keepsakes, often exchanged among families or preserved in albums, underscoring the era's emphasis on individuality amid social change. A fascinating detail lies on the verso: a collector's mark stamped with Lugt 2228, referencing Frits Lugt's authoritative catalog of ownership stamps. This provenance links the piece to esteemed European collections, adding layers of art historical intrigue and affirming its value among connoisseurs. Visitors, imagine holding this modest treasure— a window into an anonymous woman's world.

About the Artist

Pieter van der Meulen · 1638–1738

This artist went to London in 1670 where he painted battle scenes.