Ritratto della principessa Amalia van Solms

1632 was the year everything opened up for Rembrandt. He had just moved from his home town of Leiden to Amsterdam, where that same year he painted the group portrait known as The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Tulp and made his name. This portrait shows how far his reach now went: Amalia van Solms was the wife of Frederik Hendrik, prince of Orange and effectively the head of the Dutch state. The commission came from that court, a real mark of standing for a painter of 26. It was meant to hang beside a portrait of her husband made by another artist. She is turned three-quarters into the light, her lace collar and dark gown worked with great care against the shadow behind her.