Portrait of Elizabeth Spiegel

Also known as: Elisabeth Spiegel

About the Artwork

This painting belongs to a series of portraits representing the five senses and each depicting a daughter of a wealthy family from Amsterdam. This portrait of 11-year-old Elizabeth Spiegel, who holds a recorder in her hands, represents the sense of hearing. Her gown of costly satin and pearl ornaments proclaims her family's prosperity, and the imported ostrich feathers from Africa indicate Amsterdam's role as an international trade center.

Inscriptions

Inscribed on back: "Elisabet Spiegel"

Exhibition history

Year in Review: 1975. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 3-March 7, 1976). Portraiture: The Image of the Individual. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 22, 1983-January 22, 1984).

Quick Overview

Artist: Dirck Dircksz. Santvoort (Dutch, 1610/11–1680)
Date: 1639
Medium: oil on wood
Dimensions: Framed: 80.6 x 68.3 x 3.9 cm (31 3/4 x 26 7/8 x 1 9/16 in.); Unframed: 62.7 x 49.5 cm (24 11/16 x 19 1/2 in.)
Type: Painting
Classification: Painting
Department: European Painting and Sculpture
Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin
Accession no.: 1975.81

Provenance

1975-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio c. 1972-1975: Noah L. [1918-1980] and Muriel S. Butkin [1915-1998], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art 1972: (Art dealer, United States, probably sold to Noah L. and Muriel S. Butkin) 1 1972: (Sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, Nov. 3, 1972, no. 38, sold to an American art dealer) Until 1972: Estate of private collector, consigned to Sotheby Parke Bernet After 1916-by 1972: Private collection After 1916: (M. Knoedler & Co., New York, probably sold to a private collector) 1 1916-: J.T. or J.F. Drake 1 1916: (Sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, April 3-5, 1916, no. 152, illus. p. 42, sold to J.T. or J.F. Drake) 1 1895-1916: William Macbeth, New York, consigned to the Anderson Galleries 1 1883-1895: J.L. Muyser or possibly another private collector, Holland 1 1883: (Royer-Kerst and Muyser sale, Nahuys-Hodgson, Amsterdam, Nov. 14, 1883, no. 142, MS addition to sales catalogue by Victor Stuers) Until 1883: M. Muyser, The Hague 1

Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.