Cornelia Bruynseels

Artist Paulus Moreelse (Dutch, 1571–1638)

Dateabout 1600

Mediumoil on panel

Dimensionspanel: 109.1 x 75.6 cm (42 15/16 x 29 3/4 in.)
framed: 129.2 × 96.5 × 7.6 cm (50 7/8 × 38 × 3 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Daniel Merriman

Terms

Object number1905.125

Label TextMoreelse was born in Utrecht and did most of his work there. He is best known for portraiture but was also a successful architect and was active in public service in Utrecht. Cornelia Bruynseels (or Briunzeels), 1579-1615, was the daughter of the master of the mint in Utrecht and by 1601 she had married Nicolaes Lotsen Gael. The coats of arms in the upper right corner of this portrait are those of the Gael and Bruynseels families. The sitter's costume and the painting style date this work about 1600. The statue on the left is an interesting motif: the inscription VREESE on the pedestal means "fear" and may refer to the Biblical admonition, "Fear the Lord". The female statue may therefore be a personification of Fear or of another allegorical figure; the use of such symbols was common in portraiture of the period. It is likely that this figure was painted out at one time, possibly by a prudish owner, and later discovered by cleaning. This would account for its damaged condition and the consequent difficulty in deciphering it.ProvenanceMrs. Daniel Merriman, Boston MA

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