Portrait of Helena Fourment, with a young page behind her

1782

A mezzotint print entitled “Portrait of Helena Fourment, with a young page behind her” (English, 1782) by Richard Earlom (English, 1743-1822) after a painting by Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640) and published by J. Boydell. The subject, Helena Fourment (Flemish, 1614-1673), the second wife of Rubens, is depicted at full-length, standing in an entry way, where she waits for her approaching carriage (seen in the background). She wears a fancy court dress of black silk with white pearl-encrusted sleeves tied at the elbow with bows. On her head she wears a fashionable black hat with a long trailing veil. Behind her stand a young page wearing a light colored velvet suit with a high white silk collar and holding a hat and cloak. Written in script beneath the image is "P.P. Rubens pinx / R. Earlom fecit / J. Boydell execute, Publish'd July 15, 1782.” Along the bottom edge of the paper at center is a shield-shaped coat-of-arms supported by two griffins surmounted by a crown. The print is housed in an ebonized frame with inner and outer bands of gilt-wood.

English

ink on paper

ebonized giltwood frame

27 3/4" x 22"

Gift of Mr. & Mrs. William L. Van Alen, 1977.

PSNC.1940