Maarten van Heemskerck
Portrait of a lady
1529
old masters
This man and his wife are depicted with attributes representing their status. The paintings were probably commissioned to celebrate their engagement or marriage. The man is a merchant, which is clear from the coin in his hand and his book of accounts. His wife turns a spinning wheel and spins a thread, referring to diligence and virtuousness. These sorts of portraits with personal attributes were new at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
