The vertically oriented painting depicts a lady in a park at dusk. She sits facing the viewer on an indistinct object, completely obscured by her figure and the surrounding darkness. The lady is shown to the knees. The background is immersed in twilight, contrasting with the brightly lit figure in the foreground. The color palette is cool, with silvery tones.

The woman is positioned at the center of the composition. She sits facing the viewer, slightly turned to the left. Her hair is reddish, partially pinned up and tightly curled into small ringlets. A central parting separates the locks framing her face. The back portion of her hair is loose, with strands falling over her back and right shoulder. Her hair reaches her collarbones. The model’s face is oval and fair, evenly illuminated. Her forehead is high, and her eyebrows are dark and rounded. She has large, dark eyes that look directly at the viewer. Her nose is long and slender, and her lips are full, pink, and slightly flushed. Her expression is serious and refined. Her neck and ears are adorned with white pearls. The lady wears a gown with a low neckline. The gown is brown, richly embroidered across its entire surface in shades of blue, white, and gold. Light falls directly on the dress, giving the fabrics a luminous quality. Her neckline is decorated with a silver brooch set with a white pearl. Beneath the gown appears a white blouse with puffed sleeves. Draped over her shoulders is a blue cloth. She holds the edges of the wrap; her right hand is bent at the elbow, likely resting on a fountain, and her left hand, also bent, is raised to her right breast.

On the left side of the painting is a grey figure of Cupid. It is medium-sized, about the size of a small child. The statue is gently illuminated and forms part of the fountain. Cupid is depicted as a small winged child, turned to the viewer with his right side. He raises his right hand upward. His head is slightly tilted downward. His right leg is softly bent, and his left leg is lifted behind him.

Beside Cupid, on the right side, is a rosebush with pale pink flowers and green leaves. The bush stands on the fountain’s pedestal. Water flows from beneath its branches.

Portrait of a Lady represents a woman from the upper social class shown in a park at dusk, which was in keeping with the fashion of the time. The various complementary elements are typical of contemporary female portraiture. They symbolize the virtues expected of an ideal lady. Pearls and water were associated with virtue, purity, and innocence. The rose and the figure of Cupid are attributes of Venus, the goddess of love, symbolizing love, fidelity, and fertility.

Caspar Netscher was a Dutch painter who began working as a portraitist in the mid-1660s and around 1670 devoted himself almost entirely to portraiture. His portraits gained recognition from the outset, and he received commissions from members of the highest social circles. In The Hague—home to the court of the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic—Netscher’s clients included courtiers, patricians, regents, and diplomats.

Audio description: Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol