Portrait of Christina Wtewael van Halen (1568-1629)

‘Non gloria, sed memoria’ (‘Not for glory, but for memory’) is the motto Joachim Wtewael has added to his portrait and that of his wife. Wtewael married Christina van Halen in 1595. He portrayed her as the ideal, god-fearing wife. The married couple is facing each other but is not looking at each other. Contact between the two is made through the hands. Painting was Wtewael’s second activity after his flax trade. He nevertheless left behind a large body of work and, today, is considered the most important Utrecht Mannerist.