Emerantia van Citters (1666-94)

About this artwork

oil on canvas

Art Historical Context

**Emerantia van Citters (1666-94)** *Simon Dubois, 1693* Oil on canvas, h 37 cm × w 32 cm × d 3.5 cm This intimate portrait by Simon Dubois captures Emerantia van Citters at age 27, just a year before her death in 1694. Painted in oil on canvas during the Dutch Golden Age, the small scale—barely larger than a standard picture frame—suggests it was a personal commission, perhaps for family or a spouse. Dubois, a French-born artist active in the Netherlands, specialized in elegant likenesses of the patrician class, reflecting the era's prosperity and taste for refined domestic art. The medium of oil on canvas allowed Dubois to achieve luminous skin tones and delicate textures typical of 17th-century Dutch portraiture. At the Rijksmuseum, this work exemplifies the transition from grand Baroque formality to more approachable, character-focused depictions. Emerantia's poised gaze invites viewers into her world, hinting at the cultural emphasis on status and individuality among Dutch elites. A charming gem for close contemplation!

About the Artist

Simon Dubois · 1632–1708

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