Portrait of a Woman, Probably Susanna Lunden 1627

Peter Paul Rubens painted this portrait of a woman, possibly Susanna Lunden, in oil on panel sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Susanna Lunden was the sister of Rubens’s first wife and the wife of a wealthy merchant; she was a prominent member of Antwerp’s bourgeoise. The woman's dress is a somber black, but the quality of the fabrics, the lace cuffs, and the pearl necklace denote her wealth. Rubens had been a court painter for the Duke of Mantua and traveled widely throughout Europe, becoming familiar with the styles of Italian Renaissance and Baroque painters. Returning to Antwerp, he became the city’s leading artist, running a large workshop that produced paintings for wealthy patrons and churches throughout Europe. Rubens and his workshop produced portraits, history paintings, and religious works that reflected the conservative values of the Catholic Reformation. Understanding the social history of 17th century Antwerp and the biographies of Rubens and Lunden are vital resources for interpreting this painting.