Portrait of Elisabeth Pietersdr Kessels (1640-1717)
Historical Context
Van Everdingen's companion portrait of Elisabeth Pietersdr Kessels, wife of Burgomaster Baert, painted in 1671, completes the civic portrait pair. These formal spousal portraits, common among the Dutch regent class, affirmed the social status of the sitter and her husband within the civic hierarchy of Alkmaar. The complementary format and date create a unified presentation of the burgomaster and his wife.
Technical Analysis
Van Everdingen's oil-on-canvas technique renders the woman's features and costume with the same careful attention as the companion portrait. The restrained palette and dignified composition maintain the formal decorum expected of Dutch civic portraiture.
Provenance
div p ** strong For both the present painting (SK-A-1340) and its pendant (SK-A-1339) /strong ** /p p ; sale, Jan Hendrick Cremer (1813-1885, Arnhem and Ixelles), Amsterdam (F. Muller et al.), 26 October 1886, no. 23, fl. 345, to the museum{NHA, ARM, IS, inv. 166, nos. 101 (25 October 1886), 119 (2 December 1886); NHA, ARS, Kop., inv. 289, p. 119, no. 267 (15 December 1886).} /p /div
