Update


Click for large

When John Ringling bought the portrait of "Engelberta" she had no name or date. It clearly is a painting by the hand of Nicolaes Maes, but there was no further info at that time. The origin, according to the archives, is that Boehler (Ringling's German art advisor) remembered, at a much later date, that John bought the painting in London in ~1930 for £1000.
It was later assumed that the girl resembled a portrait by Maes of Engelberta van Brienen, as published in a (black and white) cathalogue "Portrait collection of a Utrecht family, 1978". Click pic on right to view.

I have received several emails from people who doubt that the Ringling portrait really is Engelberta van Brienen since it is very unusual to have two large portraits painted in the same year by the same artist. Therefore, to visually investigate this further, I have joined the portraits next to each other for close comparision. The first is the Ringling portrait next to the certified Utrecht's family portrait of Engelberta..

Is it Engelberta? I believe so, but you'll be the judge. Remember, these are artist hand-painted portraits.


Click pic above to enlarge