An Unknown Old Woman in Black holding a Book, wife of the supposed Common Councilman
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1635 - circa 1645
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
950 x 755 x 55 mm
Order this imageCollection
Kingston Lacy Estate, Dorset
NT 1257206
Summary
Oil painting on panel, An Unknown Old Woman in Black holding a Book, wife of the supposed Common Councilman (later called Elizabeth Barne, Mrs Edward Altham, d.1621), British (English) school, circa 1635-45. A half-length portrait of an elderly woman, turned slightly to the right, facing spectator, wearing a black cowl bonnet covered in a black veil which falls to her shoulders over an elaborately folded fine linen collar, edged with lace; her gown has cuffs which match the collar, her left arm is at her side and the hand is not shown, her right arm is held across her waist, and holds a closed book which is partially tucked under her left arm.
Provenance
first recorded in 1731; bequeathed by Ralph Bankes, 1981
Credit line
Kingston Lacy, The Bankes Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist previously catalogued as attributed to Cornelius Johnson (London 1593 - Utrecht 1661), artist