Portrait of Luisa Enrichetta of Orange (The Hague, 1627 – Cölln, 1667)

Countess of Nassau and Electress of Brandenburg

Oil on canvas

74 x 60 cm.

Framed: 90 x 78 cm.

The work is accompanied by an expert report drawn up by Prof. Emilio Negro (Bologna)

This exquisite portrait, depicting a young lady of the high aristocracy, is a true masterpiece of elegance and charm, capable of capturing the viewer’s gaze and transporting us directly to the heart of Flemish portraiture in the height of the 17th century.

More specifically, it is a work attributed to the Dutch painter Willem van Honthorst (Utrecht, 1594 – Utrecht, 1666) which, based on comparisons with other portraits of the period, is thought to depict Princess Louise of Holland in the Palatinate (1622–1709), Countess of Nassau, and, following her marriage to Frederick William I of Brandenburg, Electress Consort of Brandenburg.

As a painter at the German court in Berlin, Willem van Honthorst worked on behalf of the countess for no fewer than seventeen years, from 1647 to 1664, producing numerous portraits of the sovereign and her family circle. Portrait painting became a valuable means of maintaining the support of relatives and patrons, and works such as this example were distributed throughout Europe.

The style of his portraits, which we can clearly admire in the painting under consideration here, gradually moved away from the realism of international Caravaggism (typical of the Utrecht School) to embrace a more composed, aristocratic and idealised style.

The canvas is dominated by the magnetic figure of the noblewoman, whose face, of an almost porcelain-like purity, emerges from a deep, dark background with extraordinary delicacy. Her large, intense eyes gaze at the viewer with proud aristocratic elegance, striking a perfect balance between the innocence of youth and an awareness of her social standing.

Every single detail of her attire is a celebration of luxury and fine craftsmanship, such as the sumptuous gown featuring a wide décolleté neckline in a vibrant bright red, paired with a dark stole draped over her shoulder and embellished with brooches set with precious stones running along the bodice, accentuating its regal quality.

The exquisite details are equally magnificent, including the large teardrop-shaped pearl earrings that stand out against her chestnut curls, echoed by the splendid necklace adorning her neck and her hair styled in curls and embellished with a red ribbon.

In her hands, the young woman holds a dark glass vase with studied grace; inside it are striped tulips, a widely used iconographic device in Dutch Golden Age painting, which introduces a vibrant, poetic and almost fragrant note to the composition. It is also a recurring symbolic element in Baroque portraiture, linked to vanity, ephemeral beauty or specific nuptial contexts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is complemented by an attractive gilded wooden frame and is sold complete with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.

We arrange and organise the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, using professional, insured carriers.

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