Reserved and luminous, Portrait of a Lady conveys a quiet intensity suited for sympathy, or simply reaching out with grace. The sitter’s folded hands and downcast gaze suggest inner strength veiled in restraint, ideal for a message of thoughtful presence or gentle solace. Painted with crystalline precision, her gauze headdress and finely contoured features are rendered in the sober elegance of mid-15th century Flemish portraiture. Rogier van der Weyden imbues the sitter with a noble dignity, reminding us that emotion need not be loud to be deeply felt.

This artwork is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., courtesy of the Andrew W. Mellon Collection.