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Portrait of a Woman in a Leopard Cloak, c1545. Creator: Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen
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Portrait of a Woman in a Leopard Cloak, c1545. Creator: Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen
Portrait of a Woman in a Leopard Cloak, c1545. The luxuriousness of this gentlewoman's stole or mantel of European lynx is set off against a variation of a simple linen beguin headdress, a modest style initially associated with the Beguines, a religious order with many communities in the Netherlands. It was very commonly worn by women of status in the 1520s to 1540s and is consistent in time with the slashed sleeves, square-cut bodice with a cleft and high-necked under shirt and over-shirt with an opening in the front.That the woman's pose is angled slightly toward our right--rather than in the reverse that would be expected of a woman depicted in a pair with her husband--suggests that the sitter is single or a widow. The black upper cap, sober expression, and unfocused downward gaze as she fingers a rosary could be read as suggesting that she is a widow
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Media ID 36366344
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1540s 1550s Animal Hide Animal Skin Bonnet Clasped Hands Class Cloak Hand Hands Clasped Jan Cornelis Vermeyen Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen Leopard Skin Middle Class Northern Renaissance Prayer Beads Rosary Sadness Sleeve Sleeves Social Class Vermeyen Jan Cornelis Vermeyen Jan Cornelisz Walters Art Museum Widow Beguine Ladieswear Posture Womens Wear Womenswear
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This striking portrait, titled "Portrait of a Woman in a Leopard Cloak," dates back to the 1540s-1550s and was created by the renowned Dutch painter, Jan Cornelisz Vermeer (also known as Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen). The image showcases a woman of high status, adorned in a luxurious European lynx cloak, which contrasts dramatically with her simple beguine headdress. The beguine order, with numerous communities in the Netherlands, was known for their modest attire, and this style was popular among women of the middle class during the 1520s to 1540s. The woman's pose, angled slightly to the right, suggests that she may be single or a widow. Her somber expression, unfocused downward gaze, and clasped hands, as she fingers a rosary, further reinforce this interpretation. The black upper cap and black attire add to the overall sense of mourning or religious devotion. The portrait is a prime example of the fashion trends of the 16th century, with slashed sleeves, a square-cut bodice with a cleft, and a high-necked under shirt and over-shirt with an opening in the front. The woman's posture and the intricately detailed leopard skin cloak are evidence of the wealth and status of the sitter. This oil painting on panel, a masterpiece of the Northern Renaissance, is currently housed in the Walters Art Museum. The rich colors and the exquisite detailing of the painting transport us back to the 16th century, offering a glimpse into the fashion, social class, and religious practices of the time.
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