Portrait of a 57-Year-Old Woman

Frans Hals (I) (in 1639)

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Rodney Franko asked

Do experts agree that the painting in Budapest, Hungary, known as the Esterhazy Madonna is a genuine Raphael? Thank you.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Rodney, thank you for your question. Unfortunately your question is not about a work in the Boijmans Van Beuningen collection. For questions about the Esterhazy Madonna, I would suggest to approach an expert in the Budapest Museum. Kind regards, Els
Betty asked

In some sources Judith van Breda is named as woman on the portrait. Is this possible? Or is it a wrong assumption? Betty
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Betty, Yes, this is possible. Considering the pose of the woman (at an angle, looking to the right), there must have been a counterpart for this portrait. In 1934 the portrait of Hendrick Swalmius by Frans Hals was discovered to be this counterpart, so the painting in Boijmans must show his wife. We know that Swalmius was married in 1600 to Judith van Breda. Unfortunately, since we don’t know her exact date of death, we can’t be completely sure that this 57-year old woman is her.

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It is no wonder that the 19th-century Realists were impressed by the vitality of Hals’s portraits. The rapidity of the brushstrokes that capture the likeness while preserving the drawing is matchless. He also captured a type brilliantly. She keeps her distance, this 57-year-old clergyman’s wife. She is neither stiff nor stolid, but reserved. As was only fitting in those days.

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Specifications

Title	Portrait of a 57-Year-Old Woman
Material and technique	Oil on panel
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is in storage

Dimensions	Width 21 cm Height 29,5 cm
Artists	Painter: Frans Hals (I)
Accession number	2498 (OK)
Credits	Acquired with the collection of D.G. van Beuningen, 1958
Department	Old Masters
Acquisition date	1958
Creation date	in 1639
Collector	Collector / D.G. van Beuningen
Internal exhibitions	The Collection Enriched (2011)
Research	Show research Alma
Material	Panel > Worked wood > Wood > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe