Johannes Corneliszoon Verspronck (Dutch, 1606/9–1662)
Portrait of a Lady, 1641
Oil on canvas
The Norton Simon Foundation, F.1973.34.2.P

This unidentified woman’s fashionable and expensive clothing indicates that she was a member of Haarlem’s elite society. Her neck is encircled by an extraordinary ruff, which laundresses would have kept pristinely starched. Fine lace cuffs produced by skilled female artisans decorate her wrists, and she holds a feather fan in her modestly folded hands. The woman’s subdued pose is countered by her inviting expression, as if she is greeting someone who has just entered the room. Her gentle smile and the slight crinkling around her eyes suggest an agreeable nature that may have been familiar to those who knew her. As with most formal portraits at the time, this was likely painted over several sessions, during which the woman and the artist would have become acquainted, allowing the astute portraitist to record both the likeness and personality of his subject.