A Lady with a Fan

Ferdinand Bol painted A Lady with a Fan around 1647, demonstrating the strong influence of Rembrandt on his most accomplished student of the Amsterdam period. Bol trained directly under Rembrandt and absorbed his master's technique so thoroughly that many of his works were attributed to Rembrandt himself until the twentieth century. This portrait shows the characteristic Rembrandtesque treatment: the warm, directional light, the psychological intimacy of the figure, and the specific attention to the textures of rich costume. As Bol developed his own career and clientele, he moved somewhat away from Rembrandt's most radical psychological experiments toward a more consistently polished style suited to the Amsterdam regent class that formed his primary patrons.

Smoother, more polished surface treatment than Rembrandt's rough impasto reflects Bol's evolving personal style. The lighter palette and more even illumination of the face anticipate the classicizing elegance that would characterize Bol's mature portraiture.