Portrait of a Lady

This 1644 Portrait of a Lady at the National Gallery of Ireland demonstrates Bol's early portrait practice, which combined the warm tones and psychological attention of his Rembrandt training with the formal elegance expected by female sitters of the Dutch merchant class. Ferdinand Bol was one of Rembrandt's most talented pupils, and his portraits and history paintings from his years in the master's studio are sometimes difficult to distinguish from Rembrandt's own work—a testament to his exceptional skill in absorbing the master's technique.

The lady is rendered with the careful balance of likeness and flattery that successful Dutch portrait painters achieved, Bol's warm palette and smooth handling creating a dignified, attractive image.