Nicolaes Maes, 1634 Dordrecht – 1693 Amsterdam The artist was an important Dutch painter and one of the best pupils of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). PORTRAIT OF JOHANNA VAN DEN BRANDE Oil on canvas. 59 x 48 cm. We would like to thank Dr. Guido Jansen for confirming the authorship. Three-quarter portrait of a courtly lady in an elegant dress with a wide décolleté against a dark landscape background in the setting light. She has a delicate complexion, slightly flushed cheeks and her gray eyes look out of the picture with dignity. She has long light blonde hair and is playing with her locks with the fingers of her right hand. Her affiliation to the nobility could be hinted at by the precious pearl jewelry in her ear and around her neck, which enhances the effect of her graceful face. The white dress with lace borders is adorned with decorative brooches on the sleeves and at the neckline, with a shiny blue shawl draped over her right shoulder. Annotation: This high-quality, representative portrait shows the typical features of the well-known painter's style. Maes received his first training as a young apprentice under Rembrandt in Amsterdam, whose style of painting he immediately adopted. It was only later, after 1678, that his painting style changed after being influenced by Van Dyck. This can be seen above all in the portraits that now predominate. He was now less concerned with working out light and shadow effects as in Rembrandt's art, but rather with capturing the characteristics of the people depicted. Thus the majority of his oeuvre shows portraits of men, women and children, mostly from aristocratic or upper middle-class circles. (14023225) (10) Nicolaes Maes, 1634 Dordrecht - 1693 Amsterdam PORTRAIT OF JOHANNA VAN DEN BRANDE Oil on canvas. 59 x 48 cm. We would like to thank Dr. Guido Jansen for confirming the authorship.