Portrait of a Young Noble

In this triptych titled “Portrait of a Young Noble,” I have painted an image of a child from the period of the Dutch Renaissance, by using traditional clothing of the time period and Rembrandt style lighting. With the intention to re-create a portrait painting by a commissioned artist from the likes of Rembrandt or Vermeer, a mysterious narrative about a noble girl and a letter unfolds. She is given the role to carry out this secret message and deliver it a higher source. Uncharacteristic for the Renaissance period, children of nobility were usually expected to learn from their parents, most especially girls from their mothers, and fulfill their duties as a lady. This child possess a greater purpose, a stronger poise destined to establish her own path and success. Her attitude presents a childish innocence yet mystery clouds the secrecy behind the symbolic letter.