Portrait of a Girl Dressed in Blue  1641

by Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck

Why is this portrait so popular? Because it depicts an adorable child dressed in her Sunday best? As was the custom of the day, the young girl is portrayed as a small adult lady. That she is playing a role is betrayed only by her facial expression. Unfortunately, we know nothing about her identity or her family. Perhaps she resided in Haarlem, like the portraitist Verspron...
Credit: 
Courtesy of Rijksmuseum