Contact gallery for price		Caspar Netscher Heidelberg c. 1639 - 1684 The Hague Portrait of a Lady Oil on panel 12 x 9 3/4 inches (31 x 24.8 cm) Signed: C. Netscher and indistinctly dated: An 16 Caspar Netscher trained under Gerard Terborch in Deventer and went on to spend most of his early career in The Hague, where he settled in 1651. He learned early on from Terborch the value in the art of depicting luxury goods such as the white satin for which both masters were so renowned. Netscher executed both genre and religious scenes and at times he ventured toward mythological subjects but from about 1670 onwards he devoted himself nearly exclusively to the portrait, often of members of the Court circles in The Hague. His reputation was so highly regarded that he was invited to England by King Charles II. Netscher worked elegantly and with a bit of French influence, exquisitely finished and influencing Dutch portraiture into the eighteenth century. His followers included his sons Constantijn (1688-1723) and Theodore (1661-1732). Our portrait elegantly exemplifies the artist's interest in depicting the luxurious. The painting is as much a study of fine clothes and tapestry as it is the portrayal of a lady. The fabric of the lady's dress cascades down from her shoulders, over her arms and spills onto the table in dramatic folds. Netscher captures both the tactile and visual richness of the cloth, as it seems to gleam with inviting realism. The dominant use of gold, green and burgundy creates a striking contrast with the bright white found in the flesh tones, as well as the limited use of pale blue for the patch of sky above the figure's head. The featured woman gracefully holds her dress, a poised arm resting on the side table, and gazes at viewers with a seductive smile. Her serene composure complements the luxury of her attire and surroundings, unifying the painting a sense of extravagant beauty.