Portret van Anna van Bedford 1655 - 1700

This is Jan van Somer’s portrait of Anna van Bedford, a 17th-century engraving that offers a fascinating glimpse into symbols of status and virtue. Notice the orange tree, a symbol of fertility and abundance, often associated with marriage and prosperity in Dutch art. This motif, derived from classical antiquity and the gardens of the Hesperides, also surfaces in Renaissance paintings. It reappears during the Renaissance with a similar, albeit more religious, meaning in paintings of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. Over time, the orange evolved into a symbol representing not only material wealth and marital promise but also divine favor and spiritual purity. Its presence here evokes deep-seated, subconscious desires for stability, continuity, and familial legacy. This portrait resonates with the emotional weight of societal expectations and the enduring power of symbols. It shows us how images carry emotional and cultural information through time.