2-738-498 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Mrs. Leneve, c. 1657. Mrs. Leneve appears as a voluptuous beauty, facing the viewer with her large, symmetrical, almond-shaped eyes. Her ample shoulders, curled hair, long slender fingers, and fleshiness under her chin conform to the ideals of beauty in the 1600s. Equally important in this conception of beauty was the more elusive quality of grace and effortless movement. Lely achieves this through the sitter’s elegant pose.