Skip to main content

Nicolaes Maes Art

Dutch, 1634-1693

Nicolaes Maes was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre and portraits. He was born in Dordrecht, the son of Gerrit Maes, a prosperous merchant, and Ida Herman Claesdr. In about 1648, he went to Amsterdam, where he entered Rembrandt's studio. Before his return to Dordrecht in 1653, Maes painted a few Rembrandtesque genre pictures, with life-size figures and in a deep glowing scheme of color, like The Reverie at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Card Players at the National Gallery, and The Children with a Goat Carriage. So closely did his early style resemble that of Rembrandt, that the last-named picture, and other canvases in the Leipzig and Budapest galleries and in the collection of Lord Radnor, were or are still ascribed to Rembrandt. In his best period, from 1655–65, Maes devoted himself to the domestic genre on a smaller scale, retaining to a great extent the magic of color he had learned from Rembrandt. Only on rare occasions did he treat scriptural subjects, as in Hagar's Departure, which has been ascribed to Rembrandt. His favorite subjects were women spinning, or reading the Bible, or preparing a meal. Maes had a particular fascination with the subject of lacemaking and made almost a dozen versions on this subject. While he continued to reside in Dordrecht until 1673, when Maes settled in Amsterdam, he visited or even lived in Antwerp between 1665–67. His Antwerp period coincides with a complete change in style and subject. He devoted himself almost exclusively to portraiture and abandoned the intimacy and glowing color harmonies of his earlier work for a careless elegance which suggests the influence of Van Dyck. So great indeed was the change, that it gave rise to the theory of the existence of another Maes, of Brussels. His registered pupils were Justus de Gelder, Margaretha van Godewijk, Jacob Moelaert, and Johannes Vollevens. Maes died in Amsterdam. Maes is well represented at the London National Gallery by five paintings: The Cradle, The Dutch Housewife, The Idle Servant, The Card Players, and a man's portrait. At Amsterdam, besides the splendid examples to be found at the Rijksmuseum, is The Inquisitive Servant of the Six collections. At Buckingham Palace is The Listening Girl (repetitions exist), and at Apsley House Selling Milk and The Listener. Other notable examples are at the Berlin, Brussels, St Petersburg, the Hague, Frankfort, Hanover, Ottawa and Munich galleries.

to
1
1
1
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
4
3
4
3
3
3
1
4
4
4
4
4
7,750
5,001
2,504
1,390
4
3
1
Artist: Nicolaes Maes
17th century portrait of a lady
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Bath, Somerset
Portrait of a lady by Dutch Golden Age painter Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693). Half-length, within a feigned oval, the lady wears a pearl necklace and earrings, an ivory silk gown adorned...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A pair of Dutch 17th century old master portraits of a husband and wife
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Bath, Somerset
A rare pair of three-quarter length 'marriage' portraits by one of the foremost dutch portrait painters of the 17th century, Nicolaes Maes (Dordrecht 1634-1693 Amsterdam). The gentleman signed middle left 'Maes 1679'. Oil on canvas in dutch style ebonised frames. Dimensions 58 x 47.5cms each. The gentleman is shown in a landscape at dusk, leaning against a stone capital, wearing a white chemise decorated with lace, a black coat and a brown silk cloak draped across his body. The lady is elegantly dressed in an ivory silk gown decorated with jewels on the neckline and shoulders, the contrasting sleeves in gold fabric, with a rose pink silk cloak draped over her shoulder and bodice. She wears a pearl necklace and earrings with her fair hair worn up with ringlets falling down onto her chest in the fashionable style of the day. She stands with one hand touching a lock of her hair as she rests her arm on the bowl of a stone water drinking fountain...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Noble Lady
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in New Orleans, LA
Signed and dated "N MAE / 1691" (lower right) Oil on canvas A masterful example of 17th-century Dutch portraiture, this magnificent oil on canvas comes alive with luminous color, dramatic contrast and extraordinary detail. The work was composed by Nicolaes Maes, an artist widely regarded as the most prominent portrait painter of his era in Amsterdam. Fashionably styled, Portrait of a Noble Lady exemplifies the mature style of Maes, executed with the same artistry and attention to detail he imparted on his most important private commissions. This work by Maes comes from the second half of his career and follows in the rich tradition of the great Flemish Baroque painters Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. Like these artists, Maes excels at not only capturing his subjects with a technical perfection but also their inherent elegance and grace. The sitter is draped in luxurious white and red silks and pearls, underscoring the importance and prosperity of his wealthy clientele. She is placed against a dark backdrop, enabling a striking chiaroscuro effect characteristic of the artist’s portraits. Maes’s immense talent for detail and composition is clearly evident. In both palette and proportion, it embodies the somewhat austere style preferred by the artist, which emphasized a painstaking study of the costumes, hairstyles and accessories of his subjects. Such elaborate and highly detailed costuming in portraiture was a fashionable way to show one's wealth in the 17th century, particularly among the emerging class of wealthy merchants. Similar works by the painter can be found in the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), National Gallery (London), National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others. Nicolaes Maes was born in Dordrecht in 1634 to a prosperous cloth merchant. Around 1848, he moved to Amsterdam to study under Rembrandt for several years before returning to his native Dordrecht, where he established himself as a painter of genre scenes and portraits. In the 1650s, Maes traveled to Antwerp where he studied the work of Flemish artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens...
Category

17th Century Baroque Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

17th century portrait of a lady
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Bath, Somerset
Portrait of a lady richly dressed in a purple silk gown with white sleeves, a gold coloured cloak draped across one shoulder, her blonde curls worn up...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Related Items
Portrait of a Lady in Red Dress on Porch c.1680, English Aristocratic Provenance
Located in London, GB
Presented by Titan Fine Art, this painting formed part of a historic collection of an English aristocratic family, Lord and Lady Sandys at their magnificent baroque and Regency Grade-I listed family home, Ombersley Court. The house was among the most fascinating survivals of its kind in this country. The atmospheric interiors were distinguished above all for the works of art associated with two key moments in national history. The collection was acquired or commissioned over five centuries and remained at Ombersley Court until its recent sale, the first in 294 years. This portrait hung in the Grand Hall. This exquisite grand manner work is an evocative example of the type of portrait in vogue during a large part of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The artist has depicted an elegant lady, three quarter length and seated on porch with a luxurious crimson swag curtain by her side. The clothing – known as “undress” at the time, consists of red silk fastened at the front and sleeves by large gold and diamond jewels over a simple white chemise. In her lap she holds a blue wrap and in her other hand, at her chest, she clutches the end of a sheer gauzy scarf that has been draped around her body with the other end a type of headdress – this type of sheer scarf was often employed by Wissing in his portraits. The classical architecture signifies cultivation and sophistication and the luxurious swag curtain is a signifier of wealth. The portrait can be dated to circa 1680 based on the sitter’s attire, the “hurluberlu” hairstyle, and other portraits by Wissing using the same formula. This oil on canvas portrait has been well cared for over its life, which spans almost 350 years. Having recently been treated to remove an obscuring discoloured varnish, the finer details and proper colour can now be fully appreciated. Once owned by Evesham Abbey, the manor of Ombersley was acquired by the Sandys family in the early 1600s, when Sir Samuel Sandys, the eldest son of Edwin Sandys, Bishop of Worcester and later Archbishop of York, took a lease on the manor, before receiving an outright grant in 1614. The present house, Ombersley Court, dates from the time of Samuel, 1st Lord Sandys, between 1723 and 1730. The house itself is a fine example of an English Georgian country house set in rolling countryside and surrounded by Wellingtonias, planted to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo by Arthur Hill, 2nd Baron Sandys, who played a distinguished part in the battle and was one of the Duke of Wellington’s aides de camp. The Duke also stayed in the house and in the Great Hall, was the Waterloo banner which was brought to the house by Sir Arthur Hill, aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington, who succeeded his mother, the Marchioness of Downshire as 2nd Lord Sandys. Further Waterloo memorabilia are kettle drums from battle. The family had a strong tradition of military and political service, dating back to the 17th century, and this was also reflected in the fine collection of portraits and paintings in the house. In short, Ombersley represented a vital aspect of British history. The house and more especially the collection were of the greatest historical importance. Houses that have remained in the possession of the same family for as many as three centuries have become increasingly rare. Through this portrait, collectors have a chance to acquire a piece of British history and an evocative vestige of a glittering way of life, which is now gone. Much of the attractiveness of this portrait resides in its graceful manner and the utter beauty of the youthful sitter. Presented in a beautiful carved and gilded period frame, which is a work of art in itself. Willem Wissing was a Dutch artist who enjoyed a solid artistic training at The Hague under Arnold van Ravesteyn (c.1650-1690) and Willem Dougijns (1630-1697). He came to London in 1676 and most probably joined the studio or Sir Peter Lely as an assistant that same year. After Lely’s death in 1680 he effectively took over his business and he scaled the heights of patronage with extraordinary ease, creating an independent practise in 1687, and painted for very important aristocratic patrons. King Charles II was so impressed by a portrait Wissing painted of his son, the Duke of Monmouth, in 1683 that he commissioned his own portrait and that of his Queen Catherine...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait Of A Noblewoman. Attributed To Carlo Ceresa. About 1640.
By Carlo Ceresa
Located in Firenze, IT
Portrait of a noblewoman. Attributed to Carlo Ceresa. (1609 - 1679, Bergamo) Oil on canvas. Size cm 110x86,5cm with frame Around 1640. This portrait depicts a middle-aged woman with great realism, typical of Lombard and Bergamo painters in particular. Carlo Ceresa, probable author of this unsigned painting, had studied with Daniele Crespi...
Category

Mid-17th Century Baroque Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

King Charles 1st Antique Oil Painting Portrait of Famous British Monarch
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
King Charles I British artist, early 20th century signed with initials oil on canvas, framed framed: 36 x 29 inches canvas: 32 x 26 inches provenance: p...
Category

Early 1900s Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Portrait of a Lady in White Chemise, Russet & Blue Drapery c.1695, Oil Painting
By Harman Verelst
Located in London, GB
This lavish portrait, painted circa 1695, is an exquisite example of the type of portrait in vogue during the last quarter of the seventeenth century. It is evident that the artist ...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

GIRL WITH KITTEN- In the Manner of F.Ballavoine's - Italy Oil on canvas paint
By Giulio Di Sotto
Located in Napoli, IT
Girl with kitten - Giulio Di Sotto Italia 2008 - Oil on canvas cm. 60x50 Frame available on request from our workshop. This painting is Giulio Di Sotto’s personal reinterpretation of the 19th century French painter Jules Frédéric Ballavoine...
Category

Early 2000s Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fine 18th Century English Aristocratic Portrait of a Lady Oval Canvas Gilt Frame
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: English School, circa 1740's Title: Portrait of a Lady, traditionally identified as 'Anne of Chesterfield'. Medium: oil painting on canvas, framed Size: painting: ...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Huge Antique Dutch Old Master Oil Painting The Jewish Bridge after Rembrandt
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Jewish Bridge antique Dutch School, after the 1660's oil painting by Rembrandt (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam) oil painting on canvas, framed in its antique gilt frame with ornate mould...
Category

Late 19th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Virgen del Carmen II" Peruvian Cusco School Style Virgin Mary by Martha Ochoa
By Martha Ochoa
Located in Austin, TX
By Martha Ochoa Oil on Canvas Canvas Size: 48" x 32" Framed Size: 55.5" x 40.5" This lovely painting by Martha Ochoa is from the Cusco tradition. The Cusco School was an artistic tradition that first emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries in Cusco, Peru, blending indigenous and European baroque artistic styles. It is renowned for its catholic iconography, which often feature vibrant colors, elaborate ornamentation, and blended elements combining Catholic and native symbolism. This painting portrays the Virgen del Carmen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Baroque Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fine 17th Century Dutch Old Master Oil Painting Two Topers in Deep Conversation
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Topers in Deep Conversation Dutch School, mid 17th entury circle of David Teniers (Dutch 1610-1690) oil on canvas canvas: 8 x 7 inches provenance: private collection, France conditio...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Large 1700's Italian Oil Painting on Canvas Portrait of a Clerical Gentleman
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Clerical Gentleman Italian artist, mid 18th century Circle of Giovanni Battista Carboni (1725-1790) oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 26 x 22 inches provenance: private c...
Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Early Historical Portrait Believed to be of Scottish Politician David Carnegie
By John Baptist De Medina
Located in Houston, TX
Early historical portrait in the style of William Aikman believed to be of David Carnegie, 4th Earl of Northesk, a Scottish peer and politician. The work features the central figure ...
Category

Early 1700s Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

18th Century French Orientalist Portrait of Arab Man in Turban, oil painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of Arab Man in Turban French artist, 18th century oil on canvas, framed Framed: 21 x 16.5 inches Canvas : 18.5 x 14 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Previously Available Items
17th century Dutch old master portrait of a noble lady ca. 1680
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Very fine Dutch 17th century old master portrait of a young lady by Nicolaes Maes This three-quarter length portrait depicts a raven-haired beauty, seated in an elegant and mysterio...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Young Dutch Gentleman by Nicolaes Maes, Oil on Panel, Old Master
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Stockholm, SE
In late 17th century Amsterdam, no one could rival Nicolas Maes (1634– 1693) in the art of portraiture. As one of Rembrandts most accomplished pupils, Maes explored both genre painti...
Category

1680s Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil, Oak, Panel

Portrait of a Gentleman, Dutch , 17th century.
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Bath, Somerset
Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, in a feigned oval wearing a red velvet coat under a brown cloak in a landscape. Signed and dated lower right 'N. ...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil

The Cradle
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
An original hand-colored copperplate engraving on wove paper after Dutch artist Nicolaes Maes (1632-1693) titled "The Cradle". Engraved by English artist Le...
Category

1870s Old Masters Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Copper

Portrait of a Young Lady Beside a Fountain
By Nicolaes Maes
Located in Bath, Somerset
Portrait of a young lady, half-length in a landscape, wearing a red cloak, beside a fountain. Signed and dated lower right 'N. Maes 1675'. Oil on canvas in a painted oval. Provenance: Agnes Duncan Miller, London Anonymous sale, Christie's London, 4th December 1936, lot 32, sold to Mitchell Edward B. Taggart, by whom gifted to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1963 and deaccessioned, Christie's New York, 16th June 2009, lot 20 Private collection, Dallas, USA Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693) was born in Dordrecht and was the son of Gerrit Maes, a prosperous merchant. In c.1648 he went to Amsterdam and became a pupil of Rembrandt, learning from his masters use of deep intensity of colour in his work. In this period he painted mostly genre scenes such as women lacemaking or reading the Bible, before returning to Dordrecht in 1653. In c. 1660 Maes began specialising in portraits, moving away from the Rembrandt style...
Category

18th Century and Earlier Nicolaes Maes Art

Materials

Oil

Nicolaes Maes art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Nicolaes Maes art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Nicolaes Maes in oil paint, paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 18th century and earlier and is mostly associated with the Old Masters style. Not every interior allows for large Nicolaes Maes art, so small editions measuring 14 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Studio of Sir Peter Lely, Sir Godfrey Kneller, Flemish School, and 17th Century. Nicolaes Maes art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20,386 and tops out at $88,500, while the average work can sell for $50,965.

Artists Similar to Nicolaes Maes

Recently Viewed

View All