Petrus Christus: Portrait of a Young Woman (1470)

(Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany)

A painting by the Flemish artist Petrus Christus (1410/1420 – 1475/1476). A fine painting which shows a young lady. She is dressed in the fashion of the Burgundian court and she a beautiful dress, a necklace and a beehive hennin. Her face looks elongated which is achieved through tightly pulled-back hair which has been plucked at the top. The black ring on her forehead is attached to her hennin and keeps the headdress in place. The identity of the lady is not exactly clear but is she is probably a daughter of John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury - either Anne or Margaret. Either one was under 20 and was probably present during the marriage of Margaret of York, sister of king Edward IV of England, to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy in 1468 in Bruges. This painting was probably made during this event. Painting from around 1470.