Portrait of a Lady, half-length, in a maroon dress and blue wrap
Painting on canvas • Isaac Paling (Dutch, active 1664-1720)
Style & Movement
Dutch Golden Age / Late Baroque
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; fine dry-brushing for hair, layered glazes for the silk drapery, and soft blending for the skin tones. Features a feigned oval format.
Creation Period
1697
Dimensions & Format
76.7 x 64.1 cm (canvas); 105 x 80 cm (framed). Portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A half-length portrait of an elegant noblewoman set within a feigned stone oval. She wears a rich maroon gown over a white chemise, draped with a voluminous silvery-blue silk wrap. Her hair is styled in a high fontange fashion typical of the late 17th century. The composition emphasizes the tactile contrast between the soft skin and the crisp, shimmering fabric.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the work appears well-maintained with stable paint layers and vibrant pigment retention in the drapery.
Estimated Market Value
£4,000 – £6,000
Auction Estimate
£3,000 – £5,000
Provenance History
Formerly in a private collection, UK; Sold at Christie's, London, 10 November 1995, lot 81 (£2,760).
Art Historical Significance
Isaac Paling was a pupil of Abraham van den Tempel and worked alongside Jacob Toorenvliet. His work represents the transition from the mid-century Dutch portrait tradition to the more international, courtly style of the late 17th century. This piece is a signature example of his ability to render high-fashion sitters with a balance of realism and idealized elegance.
Notable Features
Faintly signed and dated 'I Paling fec[?] 1697' at the lower right; presented in an elaborate giltwood frame with a carved shell cresting and scrolling acanthus motifs.
Condition Issues
Faintness to the signature and date in the lower right; minor surface craquelure consistent with age; possible historical relining and localized retouching to the darker pigment areas in the background.
Conservation Recommendations
Periodic monitoring of the varnish for yellowing; climate-controlled environment to prevent canvas tension changes; display under UV-filtered lighting to protect delicate glazes.
Collector Notes
Isaac Paling. Dutch fl. 1664-1720- Portrait of a lady, half-length, in a maroon dress and blue wrap; oil on canvas, feigned oval, faintly signed and dated 'I Paling fec[?] 1697' (lower right), 76.7 x 64.1 cm. Framed 105cm x 80cm Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 10 November 1995, lot 81 (£2,760). Note: Paling is believed to have been a pupil of Abraham van den Tempel (c. 1622-1672), and worked with Jacob Toorenvliet (1640-1719). The present work is a particularly charming example of his portraits of elegant ladies, which are characterised by a particularly sensitive handing of his sitters' faces and the folds of rich fabrics in which they are draped.