Nicolaes Maes (Dutch, 1634-1693), "Princess of Orange", oil on canvas, unsigned, verso stretcher with a partial "Jules H. Weitzner Inc., New York" label, 44-1/2" x 36". Presented in a later giltwood and gesso exhibition frame with artist plaque. Provenance: Ex-collection of King William II of Holland; Ex-collection of Etienne Le Roy, Brussels; Ex-collection of William Tilden Blodgett, New York; Hammer Galleries, New York, New York; Private collection, Natchez, Mississippi. This canvas, according to Dr. William R. Valentiner, is characteristic of Nicolaes Maes's later, "fashionable" period, executed circa 1670. It depicts the Princess of Orange in the guise of Diana, goddess of hunt, her two hunting dogs in the foreground. Maes apprenticed in the studio of Rembrandt van Rijn and his early works revealed the master's influence in both the choice of genre as subject matter and its execution. Employing glowing colours and illuminating his subjects in soft light, Nicolaes Maes created intimate portraits of domestic life, and was especially fond of depicting women at lacemaking. Around 1670, he visited Antwerp; this coincides with a change in style and subject of his paintings and he abandoned the genre scenes for portraiture in the style of van Dyck. His use of a cooler, wider range of colors, and ability to flatter the sitter by emphasizing fabric, jewelry and other props, gained him great popularity and financial success.

Canvas has been relined. Minor inpainting repair, approximately 2" long, at the waist and a small circular one at skirt. There is a half-inch ink surface mark under the proper left eye. Two repaired tears in the upper portion of the canvas, close to the frame. It is hard for UV light to penetrate the varnish layer. Minor abrading and darkening of the varnish layer. Faint craquelure. Frame with scattered losses and repairs to gesso.