Follower of Caspar Netscher (The Hague, 1639 - 1684, The Hague)
Portrait of a Lady, 18th century
Oil on canvas, 45.7 x 35.6 cm (18 x 14 in.)
This oil painting is a portrait of an opulently dressed, light-skinned young woman. She sits outside, with trees, sky, and the bottom half of a classical statue in the background. There is a twisted red and gold velvet curtain drawn to the right. In front of this background, she is sitting, visible to her knees. She has light skin, curly brown hair, and blue eyes. She wears large pearl drop earrings and a pearl choker necklace. She holds her left hand to her chest, and holds her right hand out limply. She wears a bright red velvet cloak which is lined and edged in white-and-black ermine fur. It is clasped at her chest with a red and black jeweled clasp. Under this cloak, she wears a clinging, diaphanous silver and gold silk dress.
Vatichino
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.