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Portrait of a lady
(c. 1555-1560)
Medium
oil on wood panel
Measurements
107.0 × 72.1 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1948
Gallery location
17th Century & Flemish Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
As the foremost Flemish painter of the sixteenth century, Antonis Mor spent much time travelling between Antwerp, Augsburg, Rome and Madrid working for Europe’s aristocracy. His chief patron was Philip II of Spain. The identity of the woman in this portrait is unknown, but she is depicted with formality and piercing insight into a character typical of Mor. Her gleaming black gown is significant: black-dyed fabrics were expensive and faded quickly, and were thus reserved for special occasions. The gown was of Flemish design and may indicate the portrait’s Flemish origin and a possible dating of 1555–60, when Mor lived in Brussels and Utrecht.
Artwork Details
Accession Number
1823-4
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Portraits
Subjects (specific)
chains (object genres) dresses (garments) gowns hats oorijzers three-quarter views women (female humans)