Portrait of Maria van Strijp (1627-1707)

Maria van Strijp came from a prosperous Haarlem family in the textile trade, and in 1652, at about 25, she sat for Johannes Verspronck. The Rijksmuseum makes a blunt point about the result. The jewellery she wears and her black dress, lavishly trimmed with lace, were worth far more than the painting of them. That is why the couple went to this painter, who was known in Haarlem for getting expensive materials exactly right. She sits at ease, her left forearm resting on the back of a chair and a fan in her hand, and Verspronck signed and dated the picture on that chair back. Her husband, Eduard Wallis, was painted as its companion, and both portraits are still in their original frames.