Daniel Mytens the Elder (Dutch, c. 1590–1647)
Portrait of a Young Noblewoman, c. 1629
Oil on canvas
The Norton Simon Foundation, F.1965.1.042.P

An unidentified noblewoman stands in a formal pose, looking steadily at the viewer with an arresting gaze that energizes her otherwise reserved expression. This life-size portrait was likely displayed on the imposing walls of an aristocratic residence alongside other paintings of family members. The woman’s magnificent dress nearly fills the canvas, contributing to her monumental presence. Women maneuvered within courtly hierarchies by carefully curating their clothing, jewelry and visual representations, which could reveal political allegiances and social ambitions. Here, the sitter has fashioned herself after the charismatic Elizabeth Stuart (1596–1662), eldest daughter of King James I of England, whom Daniel Mytens depicted in a similar portrait (Figure 5). In particular, she adopts Elizabeth’s signature hairstyle—a loose lock playfully curling over a stiff white collar.