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Portrait of a Woman, possibly Elizabeth Boothby

Cornelis Jonson (called Jonson van Ceulen) (British, 1593–1661)

1619

Medium: oil on wood
Classification: Painting
Dimensions: Framed: 93.5 x 78 x 5 cm (36 13/16 x 30 11/16 x 1 15/16 in.); Unframed: 65.7 x 56 cm (25 7/8 x 22 1/16 in.)
Culture: England, 17th century
Museum: Cleveland Museum of Art, European Painting and Sculpture
Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin
Rights: Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

About this work

Research suggests that this portrait may depict Elizabeth Boothby (1590–1658), daughter of a prominent London merchant. The jewels in her hair, the silver thread and expensive lace adorning her silk gown, and even the faux marble oval surrounding her image are all signs of wealth and status. Although painted in England, this portrait reflects the traditions of Dutch portraiture, evidence of the fluid artistic exchange that existed between the two countries. Jonson was born in London, received his artistic training in Amsterdam, and spent the last 20 years of his career in the Dutch Republic.