Double Portrait of a Married CouplePieter Codde · 1634

Identification of the Double Portrait

Pieter Codde executed the Double Portrait of a Married Couple in 1634. This oil on panel work presents two figures positioned side by side. The subjects are dressed in formal, high-status attire, characterized by ruffled collars and white cravats. They are situated before a doorway, a setting that provides a structured architectural backdrop to the pair.

The composition captures the subjects in a moment of stillness. The man on the left wears a hat, while the woman on the right is rendered with similar sartorial detail. Their presence is documented through precise brushwork that defines the textures of their clothing and the light upon their faces. This portrait functions as a formal record of the couple's social standing and domestic union during the Dutch Golden Age.

Visual Composition and Details

The composition centers on two figures positioned side by side. On the left, a man is depicted wearing a hat, a ruffled collar, and a white cravat. To his right, a woman is dressed in a similar manner, featuring a ruffled collar and a white cravat. The pair appears to be standing before a doorway, which provides a structural frame for the subjects.

The background contains several other people, adding a sense of social depth to the scene. Near the center of the work, an umbrella is placed among the figures. The artist utilized oil on panel to render the textures of the clothing and the surrounding environment. The work is signed and dated in the upper right, above the doorway, as 16 PC 34.

Provenance and Collection History

The ownership history of this work is documented through several significant collections. It was compiled by Quentin Buvelot and later held by Willem, Count of Aldenburg Bentinck and Waldeck-Limpurg and his heirs at Middachten. This provenance remained continuous until the period between 1882 and 1944.

The painting has a long-standing relationship with the Mauritshuis. It was on loan to the museum from 1901 to 1903 through the A. Nijstad Gallery in The Hague. Later, between 1948 and 1960, the work was held by Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit and was on loan to the Mauritshuis during those years.

Where to See the Artwork Today

The work is held within the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis. This collection is located in The Hague, Netherlands. Visitors can find the oil on panel piece as part of the museum's permanent holdings.

The museum is situated in the historic Binnenhof district. It remains a primary site for viewing Dutch Golden Age paintings. The piece is part of a curated environment that emphasizes the social and domestic themes of the seventeenth century.