The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Portrait of a Woman, possibly Elizabeth Boothby

Portrait of a Woman, possibly Elizabeth Boothby

1619
(British, 1593–1661)
England, 17th century
oil on wood
Framed: 93.5 x 78 x 5 cm (36 13/16 x 30 11/16 x 1 15/16 in.); Unframed: 65.7 x 56 cm (25 7/8 x 22 1/16 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin 1973.185
Location: 213 Dutch Painting

Did You Know?

For this prominent merchant's daughter, sparkling jewels and expensive lace were proud evidence of wealth.

Description

Research suggests that this portrait may depict Elizabeth Boothby (1590–1658), daughter of a prominent London merchant. The jewels in her hair, the silver thread and expensive lace adorning her silk gown, and even the faux marble oval surrounding her image are all signs of wealth and status. Although painted in England, this portrait reflects the traditions of Dutch portraiture, evidence of the fluid artistic exchange that existed between the two countries. Jonson was born in London, received his artistic training in Amsterdam, and spent the last 20 years of his career in the Dutch Republic.
  • By 1917
    E. C. Knight, London (sale: Christie's, London, 29 Jan. 1917, no. 45, evidently bought in by family for 80 Gns.)
    By 1947
    Colonel G. M. Knight, consigned to Christie's, London, in 1947
    1947
    (Christie's, London, 17 Oct. 1947, no. 47, sold to Goldblatt for 90 Gns.)
    1947 - ?
    Goldblatt
    By 1971
    Central Picture Galleries, New York, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin
    1971 - 1973
    Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin, by gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1973.
    1973 -
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • null
    Finberg, Alexander J. "A Chronological List of Portraits by Cornelis Johnson or Jonson." The Walpole Society 10 (1921-22): 7, p. III Mentioned: p. 7; Reproduced: pl. III
    Whitworth Art Gallery. The Age of Shakespeare. Manchester: Whitworh Art Gallery, 1964. Mentioned: p. 24
    "The Year in Review for 1973." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 61, no. 2 (1974): 31-78. Referenced: cat. no. 38, p. 74, Reproduced: p. 43 www.jstor.org
    Lurie, Ann Tzeutschler, and William S. Talbot. "Annual Report for 1973: Paintings." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 61 no. 6 (June 1974): 186-187 Mentioned: p. 186; Reproduced: p. 187
    Christie, Manson & Woods. Important English Pictures. 1974. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 56, lot no. 165
    Christie, Manson & Woods. Important English Pictures. 1975. Mentioned: p. 32, lot no. 81
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 169 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art: Catalogue of Paintings. Part 3: European Paintings of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1982. Mentioned: pp. 195-197; reproduced: p. 196
    Chong, Alan. European & American Painting in the Cleveland Museum of Art: A Summary Catalogue. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1993. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 116
    Karen Hearn, Edward Town, and Jessica David. Cornelius Johnson, 1593-1661: Painter to King & Country. London: The Weiss Gallery, 2016. Mentioned and reproduced: pp. 20, 38
  • Year in Review: 1973. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 30-March 17, 1974).
  • {{cite web|title=Portrait of a Woman, possibly Elizabeth Boothby|url=false|author=Cornelis Jonson (called Jonson van Ceulen)|year=1619|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1973.185