s A young woman - Hull Museums Collections

A young woman

While Thomas de Keyser (1596/7-1667) preceded Rembrandt’s (1606-1669) popularity in Amsterdam, Helst replaced him as the city’s most fashionable portrait-painter. His appeal lay in a robust and realistic style that brought him many commissions, particularly for group portraits. This very polished portrait of an unknown girl lacks the endearing facial character of Frans Hals’ (1580-1666) sitter. Instead, it is the precise technique and attention to detail that attract the eye. The shadow on the wall and the hand resting on the chair are intended to define space. The inscription, upper left, AETAIS SVE 19/AN 1643, tells us that the sitter was aged nineteen in 1643, when the portrait was painted. The Ferens’ painting is regarded as an especially good example of Helst’s art, which is rare in British collections.