Portrait of Machtelt Suijs
Maarten van Heemskerck·c. 1540–45
Historical Context
Maerten van Heemskerck painted this portrait of Machtelt Suijs around 1540-45, depicting a wealthy Dutch woman in the elaborate costume of the Northern Netherlands. Van Heemskerck was one of the most important Dutch painters of the sixteenth century, who traveled to Rome in 1532-36 where he filled sketchbooks with drawings of ancient ruins that became invaluable archaeological documents. His portraits combine Northern precision with the monumental forms he absorbed from Michelangelo.
Technical Analysis
The oil on wood panel demonstrates Van Heemskerck's precise rendering of costume details — the elaborate headdress, jewelry, and fabric textures. His Italianate training is evident in the sculptural solidity of the figure and the confident, broad modeling of the face.
Provenance
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio; (Thomas Agnew & Sons, London, and Bruno Meissner, Zurich, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art); (Nouveau Drouot, Paris, sale, March 17, 1987, no. 147, sold to Thomas Agnew and Bruno Meissner); Private collection, Tournai (?), Belgium; Dirick [1512-1578] and Machtelt van Teijlingen [d. after 1581], Alkmaar, Holland
