A head and shoulders portrait study after, or possibly inspired by Balthasar Denner’s accomplished studies of old age. A Head of an Old Woman of similar dimensions and identical frame (RCIN 406100) has been treated as pair within the Royal Collection since they were first acquired in the mid-nineteenth century. The portraits were first recorded at Hampton Court in 1859 as by Denner; they both bear labels on the reverse inscribed with the date 17 July 1852 (Nos 22 and 23) suggesting a move to Hampton Court on that day.

The authorship of both portraits has proved problematic. However, the subject definitely represents one of Denner’s well-known models and subject of his studies of old age; it is a variation of the signed painting in the Hamburg Kunsthalle (HK-409). The model also appears in portraits in the Berlin Gemälde Galerie (no. 1014) and in the San Francisco Fine Art Museum (no. 53166) (Mannhardt 2011, personal communication). Lilian Ruhe considered it to be a later copy, a variant by another hand after the work in Hamburg, dating, possibly from the 19th century (Ruhe 2021, personal communication). However, the condition makes it difficult to assess the quality and date of the painting. 

Denner was born in Altona, near Hamburg. Despite its proximity to the German city, at the time Altona formed part of the Danish Kingdom, and was home to many refugees from the Spanish Netherlands - the so-called Mennonites. In his early twenties Denner moved to Berlin to study art; by 1712 he was recognised as a professional painter and later settled in Hamburg. The artist is best known for his meticulous depictions of old age and character heads. He worked in England between 1721 and 1728 where he painted in a broader and more varied style. Attention to detail in a subtle rending of furs, fabrics and ageing lines on a face were amongst the characteristics of Denner’s work. This was coupled with an appreciation of the work of Rembrandt.