Portrait of Gillis Hooftman, Shipowner, and His Wife Margaretha Van Nispen 1570

Maarten de Vos' "Portrait of Gillis Hooftman, Shipowner, and His Wife Margaretha Van Nispen" is a striking example of 16th-century Northern Renaissance portraiture. Painted in 1570, the work depicts the couple in a formal setting, their attire and poses reflecting their wealth and status. Gillis, a prominent shipowner, is shown in a black doublet with a full beard, while Margaretha wears a richly embroidered gown and a jeweled chain. The inscription at the top identifies the couple and the artist, while the artist's signature is in the lower right corner. The work, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a fine example of the detailed realism and elegant style characteristic of de Vos' oeuvre.