Portrait of Caecilia van Beresteyn (1589-1661) 1640

Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt's "Portrait of Caecilia van Beresteyn (1589-1661)" is a 17th-century oil on canvas portrait of a Dutch woman. Painted in 1640, the painting shows a woman with a serious expression, dressed in a black gown with a large, white ruff. Her clothing and posture reflect the fashion and societal expectations of the time. The detailed rendering of her face and the careful depiction of her attire exemplify Mierevelt’s skill as a portrait painter. The portrait, now in the Rijksmuseum, is an important example of Dutch Golden Age portraiture.