Head of a Woman

FlemishMid-16th century

Dulwich Picture Gallery
London, United Kingdom

This was clearly not intended as a portrait. The jewellery and costume suggest a date in the mid-sixteenth century, whilst the care with which these accessories are painted and the strength of the colour, suggest a Flemish hand trained in Antwerp.

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Details

Title: Head of a Woman
Date: Mid-16th century
Physical Dimensions: w451 x h578 cm
Type: Painting
Medium: Oil
Work Nationality: French
Support: Panel
School: Flemish
Provenance: Cartwright Bequest, 1686 (inv. no. 119: 'A woman in a green mantell a chaine of pearle on her head...').
Further Information: Described in the Cartwright inventory as 'oul mr Cartwright Actour'. This is presumably the actor William Cartwright, who was a member of Palsgrave's Men and subsequently of the King and Queen of Bohemia's Men, the Red Bull/King's Company and the King's Revels Company. He was one of the group of actors from Palsgrave's Men who rented the Fortune Theatre from Edward Alleyn (see British School DPG443) and is recorded in Alleyn's diaries on four occasions as a dinner guest. He was possibly the father of William Cartwright the younger (see Greenhill DPG393). The costume suggests a date of 1615 or shortly afterwards.
Acquisition Method: Cartwright, William (Bequest, 1686)

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