Gerard ter Borch (II): Portrait of Helena van der Schalcke (1648)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Gerard ter Borch (II) (1617-1681). The young girl is Helena van der Schalcke (1646-1671), daughter of the merchant Gerard van der Schalcke and Johanna Bardoel. She would later marry the merchant Nicolaes Eichelberg from Haarlem in 1666. Helena is shown here at the age of 2 with an elegant dress which is adorned with lace, bows, and a heavy gold chain and is holding a dianthus and a wicker basket. Also just visible on her back is one of her walking reins - her mother would use this to support and guide the girl's first steps and prevent her from wandering off. Painting from 1648.