Portrait of a Young Woman

Although the identity of this woman is unknown, the inscription near her head notes her age, 24, and the silver chain at her waist and the leather gloves in her hand indicate that she was of high social status. In the mid-16th century, many members of Antwerp’s newly wealthy merchant class commissioned half-length, small-scale likenesses such as this one to commemorate their prosperity and standing. This rare portrait by Joachim Beuckelaer shows the same attention to sartorial details he displayed in the market scenes for which he is better known.