This splendid late 17th-century three-quarter-length portrait by Dutch artist Johannes Vollevens I (1649-1728) depicts a lady wearing a plush red gown with a low, lace-trimmed neckline, together with a pearl necklace. The coat of arms in the upper left refers to the Van Vrijberghe family.
Dressed in the finest, exceedingly well-tailored attire, she’s evidently a lady of considerable means. Her sleeves are embellished with elaborate lace cuffs, and a string of delicate pearls encircles her neck. A piece of sumptuous orange fabric is draped over her shoulder, which is confidently rendered.
The lineage of the Van Vrijberghe family dates to the late 15th century and begins with David de Boet who married Cornelia Croesinck, lady of Vrijbergen, circa 1484. Their grandson, Willem Davidse de Boet, acquired the lordship of Vrijbergen in 1550 and adopted the title of De Boet van Vrijberghe.
Although our sitter’s identity is not known, the portrait was almost certainly produced at The Hague, where Vollevens spent much of his time - a comparable piece was produced there in 1693. With this in mind, she’s possibly related to Cornelia Van Vrijberghe (1651-1714) who moved from Tholen to The Hague and married Diederik Vleugels (1636-1717) of Brabant, a tax attorney.
In the lower left, a water fountain takes the form of a dolphin, albeit a rather unusual one. During the Baroque period, dolphins were often portrayed in this manner - more akin to a mythical sea beast than the endearing aquatic mammal we know today. For an example, see the Fontaine des Quatre-Dauphins at Aix-en-Provence.
Born in Geertruidenberg, The Netherlands, Johannes Vollevens possessed inordinate ability as a child, particularly in charcoal drawing. He approached art with such fervour that his parents sent him to study with the eminent portrait and genre painter Caspar Netscher (1639-1684), followed by a spell with Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693) in Dordrecht.
Now furnished with the rudiments, his next period of tuition was a longer apprenticeship with the leading Dutch portraitist, Jan de Baen (1633-1702), in The Hague. Here, over a span of eight years, he worked closely with de Baen, becoming an invaluable assistant. Due to the master’s popularity, Vollevens was often tasked with producing copies of de Baen’s works while also painting the drapery in many of his originals.
It’s said that the young man’s vigorous spirit was much needed as de Baen was often overloaded with work. It was a relationship that benefited both parties; on one hand, de Baen could meet the demands of his patrons, while on the other, Vollevens was gaining vital experience.
In 1672, upon completing his apprenticeship, he was inundated with commissions and soon gained the trust of esteemed dignitaries such as the Count and Countess of Nassau and the Prince of Courlant, who asked him to produce portraits of every officer in his regiment. With his career and security now established, orders continued to materialise - such as those for Colonel Perzival with his officers, the English ambassador Schelten, and for the Prince of Nassau. And following the death of Jan de Baen in 1702, he gained many of his master’s loyal patrons.
The word ‘Vollevens’ translates as ‘full of life’, which was the source of much punnery during his lifetime. But indeed, it was his zest and industriousness which set him apart from his peers and contributed to his distinguished reputation.
Compared to de Baen, Vollevens’ oeuvre is a touch less flattering, with each sitter portrayed closer to life. As such, his works possess greater diversity and less stylisation. For example, he describes Caspar Fagel (1634-1688) as distinguished and sensitive, whereas François Nicolaas Fagel (1655-1718) conveys pomp and ceremony. In both, there’s a sense of the individual - the spirit behind the facade.
His son, Johannes Vollevens II (1685-1759), was court painter to the Princess Dowager of Orange.
He’s represented at the Rijksmuseum, the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge University, and the Haags Historisch Museum in The Hague.
Signed in the lower left and held in a later gilt frame with elaborate corner ornaments.
Learn more about Johannes Vollevens I in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 34” x 41½” / 78cm x 104cm
Year of creation: c. 1690
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Minor stretcher imprint. Later stretcher. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
Artist’s auction maximum: £8,593 for ‘Market Scene With Two Boys by a Vegetable Seller Making Lace (1668)’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, Old Master Pictures, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 14 May 2003 (lot 193).
Our reference: BRV2158
