Nicolaes Pickenoy Portrait Margriet Benningh 1639 - Dutch Golden Age

A Captivating Portrait from the Dutch Golden Age

This elegant 1639 portrait attributed to Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy (1588-1656) depicts Margriet Benningh, capturing the refined sophistication of Amsterdam's merchant class during the Dutch Golden Age. Pickenoy was one of Amsterdam's leading portraitists before Rembrandt's rise, known for his ability to convey both social status and individual personality.

Nicolaes Pickenoy: Amsterdam's Premier Portraitist

Before Rembrandt dominated Amsterdam's art scene, Nicolaes Pickenoy was the city's most fashionable portrait painter, serving wealthy merchants, civic leaders, and their families. His portraits combined technical excellence with psychological insight, documenting the prosperous Dutch Republic at the height of its economic and cultural power.

The Dutch Golden Age

• Economic Prosperity: The 17th century saw Amsterdam become the world's financial capital, creating unprecedented wealth for merchant families
• Portraiture Tradition: Dutch citizens commissioned portraits to document their success and social standing, creating a golden age of realistic portraiture
• Fashion and Status: Elaborate ruffs, fine fabrics, and jewelry displayed in portraits signaled wealth, taste, and social position
• Artistic Innovation: Dutch painters perfected techniques for rendering textures, light, and individual character with remarkable realism

Women in Dutch Golden Age Portraiture

Portraits of women like Margriet Benningh reveal the important social and economic roles women played in Dutch society. Often depicted with symbols of virtue, domesticity, and prosperity, these portraits celebrated women as partners in their families' success and guardians of moral values.

Professional Framing by Opposite Wall

Preserve and enhance this Dutch Golden Age masterpiece with our premium framing service. Opposite Wall's museum-quality frames provide the perfect complement to 17th-century portraiture, protecting your investment while creating an elegant display.

Frame it beautifully: Select Opposite Wall framing at checkout to give this historic portrait the presentation it deserves.