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Netherlandish, 'A Woman with Prayer Beads', 1540s

About the work

Overview

A well-dressed young woman gazes out from this portrait. Her chemise seems to be embroidered in black and gold at the neck and cuffs. The golden beads among other whitish ones that hang from her girdle are probably a rosary, a devotional aid often used for prayer.

We do not know the identity of the sitter; her turned-back sleeves and the girdle tied around her waist with the beads attached were fashionable in the 1540s. The portrait has been attributed to Catharina van Hemessen, but so far, no consensus has been reached about the attribution; the format and execution suggest that it was painted in Antwerp or elsewhere in the south of the Netherlands.

Key facts

Details

Full title
A Woman with Prayer Beads
Artist
Netherlandish
Date made
1540s
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
24 × 17.5 cm
Acquisition credit
Bequeathed by Miss Julia Emily Gordon, 1896
Inventory number
NG1860
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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