Lot 2035 Dα

The painter Gortzius Geldorp, an artist from the southern Netherlands who was active in Cologne, has been plausibly suggested as the author of this portrait. With regard to the pose and many of the details, the painting displays similarities to other known works by the artist, such as the portrait of Lucretia del Prado from 1610 in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (inv. no. SK-A917). However, when comparing this portrait of an unknown woman to other works by Geldorp, considerable differences begin to emerge. For example, Geldorp tends to depict details of his sitters' clothing in a less refined manner than is the case in the present work. Another substantial difference can be seen in the facial features and the gaze of the woman, neither of which are typical of Geldorp's style. Although he may not have painted the portrait himself, it nevertheless displays clear parallels to his oeuvre. The way in which the clothing is depicted also suggests an origin in Cologne or the surrounding area, and many known artists active in Cologne were strongly influenced by Gortzius Geldorp. This work shows some stylistic similarities to the portraits of Franz Kessler, although there are also considerable differences.
The high-necked collar, open at the front, which was especially popular during the 1620s is rarely depicted in portraits.
Although it has not yet been possible to assign the portrait to a specific artist, the exceptional quality of the painting is undeniable. Prof. Dr. Rudi Ekkart summarised in a statement about this work: “It is a great pity that the qualitatively excellent portrait of an unknown woman has to remain anonymous and cannot be identified any more specifically than as the work of an anonymous artist from Gortzius Geldorp's immediate circle.”