Portrait of a Woman

Catharina van Hemessen is the earliest Flemish woman artist for whom verifiable work survives. She signed this portrait in Latin in the top right corner. We do not know who the sitter was, but she was evidently wealthy. Her fine shirt, visible at her neck and wrists, is ornated with delicate black embroidery and only loosely tied across the neck; the bodice of her dress is dark grey corded and watered silk; and her sleeves are of red velvet. Her gloves are decorated with black and golden embroidery. Her belt is made of gold and black beads and cylinders, held in place with gold settings. It may likely carry a pomander (a round vessel, usually a fine piece of gilded metalwork, containing perfume) at its end.

A small dog with what seem to be bells on its collar is tucked under her arm. Portraits of women with pet animals, often lapdogs, were quite common in the sixteenth century.

Text: © The National Gallery, London

Painting photographed in its frame by Google Arts & Culture, 2023.