Portrait of Lucia Wijbrants (1638-1719)

Lucia Wijbrants, identified by inscription and dated 1667, appears in this portrait at the Minneapolis Institute of Art—one of the last works Metsu produced before his death in 1667 at just thirty-eight. Wijbrants was the wife of a prominent Amsterdam merchant, and her portrait shows Metsu working in the refined Amsterdam portrait manner of his final years. The identified sitter and specific date make this painting a valuable document of Metsu"s late portrait practice.

The portrait shows Metsu"s most refined technique, with the smooth, luminous flesh painting and precise costume rendering of his final period. Wijbrants"s features are individualized with careful observation, while her dress and accessories indicate her prosperous social position. The palette is characteristically warm and light, with the bright tones of Metsu"s Amsterdam period.