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Because painters, with some famous exceptions, were considered craftsmen on the level of carpenters or masons, it was not normal for a prince in Holland to deal with them directly. However, Gerrit van Honthorst was able to work for all the courts and for several foreign ones as well. One advantage he had is that he was hired to paint portraits of the royals, giving them quality time with princes and princesses and a chance to charm them.
The pair of this painting, depicting Amalia van Solms, wife of Stadholder Frederik Hendrik (now in the Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris) was painted by Rembrandt.
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