Anglo-Dutch School, late 17th century A portrait of an artist at her

oil on canvas, 90 x 114.5cm; framed 102 x 126cm, A Swiss private collection of former English descendant. This poignant double portrait depicts a woman painting her deceased husband, whose likeness appears within an oval canvas on the easel. The identity of the artist remains unknown. The woman wears a red velvet cloak, a string of pearls and black embroidered bead bracelets on both wrists, which may allude to mourning. She holds a palette bearing daubs of unmixed oil paint, while her direct gaze engages the viewer. Her husband, depicted within the oval portrait, looks into the distance, emphasising his absence. The composition recalls earlier female self-portraits by Caterina van Hemessen (1528–after 1587) and Sofonisba Anguissola (c.1532–1625), particularly in the depiction of the palette. It also bears comparison with Aegidius Sadeler’s engraving of Bartholomeus Spranger and his wife, Christiana Müller, which commemorates her death through an elaborate allegorical composition. In contrast, the present work conveys grief through a restrained composition, a dark, monochromatic background and the intimate relationship between the two figures. The meticulous rendering of the embroidered bead bracelets raises the possibility that the artist may also have had experience in jewellery-making, although this remains speculative. The painting’s simplicity and lack of overt status symbols lend it a particular emotional directness, presenting a deeply personal expression of love and loss. Condition Report, Condition Report, Relined. Craquelure. Presents well overall when viewed on the wall. Not examined under UV light, for a full report please contact the department. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

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