17th Century Art Archives

Portrait of a Lady with a Lap Dog (ca 1665)

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669)

A woman in rich fabrics cradles a small dog, its fur ruffled under her fingers. Shadows pool in the folds of her sleeve, light catching the gold thread along her collar. The dog’s dark eyes meet yours, alive and watchful, while her gaze rests somewhere just beyond the frame.
Zeitloss (1692)

Magdelena Rosina Funck (German, unknown)

Delicate veins trace through petals, sharp lines carving life into paper. A stem curls with precision, each thorn placed as if by nature’s own hand. Shadows pool beneath leaves, depth conjured from ink and patience. Here, a flower exists beyond bloom—etched, enduring, unyielding to time.
A Young Woman Carrying A Basket Of Flowers (17th Century)

Roman School (Italian, unknown)

A woman pauses mid-step, her basket brimming with blooms. The flowers spill over the woven edge, petals catching the light. Her gaze lingers just beyond the frame, as if hearing her name called. The folds of her dress sway with the weight of the harvest, alive with color against the muted earth.
The Lute Player

Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer (Dutch, 1839–1902)

A young musician leans into his lute, fingers poised above the strings. The warm glow of candlelight catches the rich fabrics around him—velvet, silk—as if the room itself holds its breath for the first note.
The Love Letter (c. 1669 – c. 1670)

Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, 1632–1675)

A woman pauses, letter in hand, sunlight catching the folds of her dress. The room holds its breath—a quiet tension between anticipation and secrecy. Her gaze lingers just beyond the frame, leaving the message’s contents to imagination. The lute rests untouched; music can wait. This moment belongs to the page.
The Magdalen with the Smoking Flame (circa 1635-37)

Georges de La Tour (French, unknown)

A lone woman sits in shadow, her face lit by a single flame. The flickering light catches the curve of her skull, the folds of her robe, the stillness of her hands. A mirror lies facedown beside her. The air feels thick with quiet contemplation, the flame’s glow both intimate and isolating.
María Teresa (1638–1683), Infanta of Spain (1651–54)

Diego Velázquez (Spanish, 1599–1660)

The young Infanta gazes past the viewer, her stiff brocade gown and rigid posture belying the softness in her face. A hint of melancholy lingers beneath the formality of royal portraiture.
Isabella of Bourbon. First Queen of King Philip IV (1613 – 1660)

Diego Velázquez (Spanish, 1599–1660)

The stiff brocade of her gown barely moves as she turns, pearls glinting against black silk. A queen’s gaze meets yours—direct, unflinching—before the heavy curtains of the Spanish court close again.
Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné, comtesse de Grignan (1648-1705) (1669)

Pierre Mignard (French, 1612–1695)

A luminous portrait of aristocratic grace, blending delicate textures with quiet introspection.