Portrait of Dina Lems, Wife of Jan Valckenburgh c. 1660
danielvertangen
character portrait
possibly oil pastel
portrait reference
portrait head and shoulder
animal drawing portrait
portrait drawing
facial study
facial portrait
portrait art
digital portrait
This portrait of Dina Lems, wife of Jan Valckenburgh, painted around 1660 by Daniel Vertangen, is a classic example of Dutch portraiture. Dina is depicted standing, her pose formal and dignified, with a rich, dark dress and pearl jewelry, suggesting her status and wealth. The background, with its glimpse of palm trees and a lush garden, hints at the exotic lands that Valckenburgh, a wealthy merchant, may have visited. The painting's realism and attention to detail capture the subject's personality and the elegance of the era.
Comments
Valckenburgh was married to Dina Lems, the daughter of a high-ranking Dutch West India Company official. That she was prosperous is clear from her many pearl necklaces. Both Dina’s father and her husband amassed fortunes trading enslaved people, ivory and gold, as well as a sort of pepper known as ‘grains of paradise,’ cultivated on the west coast of Africa. That Dina points to the pepper plant next to her is not without reason.
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