At the vanity, 1650-1700

There are significanly less goddesses who preen themselves in front of a mirror in the latter half of the 17th century, but a lot of Dutch middle class ladies, which is rather more interesting for this blog.

 

Not a very good copy, but she seems to be holding a small box and she is holding her hand in the same way ladies do on 18th century paintings when they are applying a beauty patch, so I believe this is what she is doing here as well. 

A lady at her toilet by Jan van Noodt, 17th century

Not much can bee seen on the table apart from the mirror and a round box, but it is interesting to see the hairstyle from the back.

Woman at A Mirrir by Gerard Terborch the younger, ca. 1650

Mirror, a large round boc, a smaller squarer one, a comb and a necklace, or possible just a piece of string. And a rather large brush, which function I wonder about. It is round and the handle is straight, which would probably make it difficult to use as a hair brush. A clothes brush, perhaps? Or possible used to brush white powder onto the skin, the lady is certainly pale enough. What do you think?  (Follow the link under the picture and you will be able to zoom in on it.)

A Young Woman at Her Toilet with a Maid by Gerard Terborch the younger, 1650-1651

I think the red pillowlike shape is a pin cushion. If that seems like a strange thing to have at the vanity, remember that it was very common to use pins to secure clothing. There is also a small brush. Another version of this painting can be seen here.

Lady at her toilet by Gerard Terborch the younger, 1657

Women at her toilet by Gabriel Metsu, ca.1658

Lady at her toilette by Gerard Terborch the younger, 1660

 

A young woman at her toilet by Gerard Dou, 1667

Portrait of a lady by Gabriel Metsu, 1667

The love letter by Jacob Ochtervelt, ca. 1670

Another of these brushes with a straight handle.

Woman at her toilette by Frans van Mieris, 1678

A gigantic comb and dito brush Or is it a very full pin cushion? 

Recueil des modes de la cour de France, 'Fille de Marchand, estant à Sa Toilette' by Nicoals Arnoult, 1687

A lot is going on here, boxes and bowls on the table as well as a pin cushion. Hot water is arriving and what is the maid with the bowl doing. She may be holding a wash cloth and holding a washing bowl, but my first thought was that she was applying white paint.

The Morning, Lady at her toilet, engraving, late 17th century

 

The evening routine seems much less ardous.

The Night, Lady going to bed, engraving, late 17th century

Late 17th century engraving

Is she holding a hair pin or is she in the process of painting her eyebrows?

Madama la Marquise Dangeau at her Toilet, engraving, 1694

Portrait of a woman by Nicolas de Largillière, 1696

La toilette, Turkish school, around 1700

This really belong to the previous post as it is from the 1630's, but I only found it today and I had to include it, as this is a rare depiction of a man making himself pretty. Notice that he is fixing his love lock. 

A Cavalier at His Dressing Table by Adriaen van de Venne, 1631