Portrait of a Lady in White

Reserved and a little austere, a young woman looks out with a steady gaze. Her pale figure is defined against a plain, dark background, creating an inverse silhouette. The restrained palette and sparing detail contrast with the attention paid to the woman’s features, which are painted with delicacy and nuance. A light flush of pink spreads across her cheeks, and the spark of light that is caught in her eyes continues along her nose. Daubs of white paint draw attention to the double drop pearl earrings and necklace, which are her only adornments, while the sleeve of her white silk dress ripples in the light.  

This portrait is typical of the work of British painter Cornelius Johnson (1593-1661). Born in London to Flemish refugees, Johnson established a studio in Blackfriars and was officially appointed as ‘picture drawer’ to King Charles I (1600-49) in 1632. For many years he enjoyed success as the leading portraitist not only to royalty and the aristocracy, but also to wealthy merchants and gentry, producing hundreds of portraits, from miniatures to large-scale groups. His position at court was overshadowed when Dutch artist Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) arrived on the scene and injected British portraiture with a new style of glamour and attitude. In 1643, following the outbreak of the English Civil War, Johnson took his family to the Netherlands where he continued to produce portraits until his death, never returning to England.