Portrait of an Old Woman, 1645

It’s not difficult to find Old Master paintings at well-known auction houses around the world, but as some collectors have demonstrated, a well-trained pair of eyes can make intriguing discoveries at smaller auction houses, too. Items dubbed ‘Dutch School’, ‘Flemish School’ or 'Circle of…’ turn out to be worth investigating. Research into style, iconography and attribution can lead to very appealing results. Following their research, Bazuin & de Blécourt believes that ‘Portrait of an Old Woman’ may be just such a discovery.

The extraordinary quality of the portrait – in particular the depiction of the woman’s face – certainly suggested that further research could lead to some interesting discoveries. The strong lines of the sitter’s mouth, the subtle light on her nose, the appealing realism of her furrowed brow, the gentle flush of her cheeks and her dark, intense eyes: all demonstrate an uncommon level of skill. The woman’s expression – as though she is surprised by something the artist has just said – is in delightful and vibrant contrast to her full, sensual lips, creating a strong sense of the dynamics at play.

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