Portrait of a woman, aged sixteen, previously identified as Mary Fitzalan, Duchess of Norfolk Hans Eworth (Ewoutsz) (1520-1574)

The portrait presents a young woman in what appears to be her early adolescence. She stands in three-quarter view, facing slightly towards the left, with her gaze directed forward and beyond the viewer. Her posture is formal and upright, indicative of a deliberate attempt at conveying status and decorum. The artist has rendered her complexion pale, emphasizing an idealized beauty associated with aristocratic circles.
The woman’s attire immediately signals wealth and privilege. She wears a sumptuous red velvet gown, richly embroidered with gold thread in intricate patterns along the sleeves and neckline. A complex arrangement of pearls and jewels adorns her neck, forming a high, stiff ruff – a fashionable element of the period that served to accentuate social standing. The elaborate headwear, also embellished with jewels, further reinforces this impression of opulence. In her left hand, she holds a rolled document or letter, suggesting literacy and perhaps hinting at intellectual pursuits or correspondence of importance.
The background is deliberately subdued; a dark green curtain provides a neutral backdrop that allows the subject’s vibrant clothing to take center stage. The limited depth of field focuses attention entirely on the woman herself. A small inscription in the upper right corner, partially obscured but legible, includes numerals suggesting a date within the mid-16th century.
Beyond the surface depiction of wealth and status, subtle nuances suggest a more complex narrative. Her expression is not overtly joyful; rather, it conveys a sense of quiet composure bordering on melancholy. The slightly downturned mouth and the directness of her gaze hint at an awareness of responsibility or perhaps even a nascent understanding of the constraints placed upon women within her social sphere. The formality of the pose, while intended to project dignity, also creates a distance between the subject and the viewer, suggesting a guarded personality.
The overall effect is one of carefully constructed presentation – a portrait designed not merely to record likeness but to communicate lineage, status, and an idealized image of youthful virtue within a hierarchical society.