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Dutch, 'Portrait of a Man and a Woman', probably 1640s

About the work

We don’t know who painted this portrait, or who the couple in the garden are. They seem to pause mid-conversation, their expressions enigmatic, leaving us wondering what the relationship was between them. She holds a glove in her hand – sometimes a symbol of betrothal but always a sign of wealth. He holds a scarf in one hand but points outwards with the other.

Their heavy, black clothes proclaim them as prosperous, if a little out-of-date: by the 1640s, the ruff was still worn but was considered unfashionable. The man’s only nod in the direction of frivolity are the red stockings and enormous garter rosettes on his portly legs, making the woman’s red sleeves dim in comparison. On her wrist she wears a coral bracelet, expensive but often worn as a defence against the 'evil eye’.

Key facts

Full title
Portrait of a Man and a Woman
Artist
Dutch
Date made
probably 1640s
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
40.3 × 27.2 cm
Acquisition credit
Presented by the Misses Rachel F. and Jean I. Alexander; entered the Collection, 1972
Inventory number
NG6414
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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