Portrait of Lady Margaret Butts Hans The Younger Holbein

The portrait presents a woman in what appears to be advanced age, depicted against a dark, nearly featureless background that emphasizes her presence and directs attention solely upon her. She is positioned centrally within the frame, facing directly forward with a solemn expression. The lighting is carefully managed; it illuminates her face and upper torso while leaving the lower portion of her attire in shadow.
The woman’s clothing offers significant clues to her social standing and era. A complex headdress, constructed from black fabric and lined with what seems to be red or pink silk, dominates the composition. Beneath this, a crisp white linen ruff frames her face, its intricate folds meticulously rendered. She wears a dark fur stole draped over her shoulders, suggesting considerable wealth and status. A decorative pendant hangs prominently at her chest, adding another layer of ornamentation.
The artist has paid close attention to capturing the effects of age on the subject’s features. Deep lines are etched around her eyes and mouth, conveying experience and perhaps a certain weariness. The skin exhibits a mottled texture, indicative of years passed. Despite this, there is a firmness in her gaze that suggests resilience and dignity.
Inscribed above her head, in Latin, are the words Anno Aetatis Sue LVII, which translates to “in the year of her age, fifty-seven.” This inscription serves as a direct declaration of her age at the time of the portrait’s creation, an unusual detail that underscores the sitters identity and perhaps hints at a desire for posterity.
The overall impression is one of quiet authority and established social position. The absence of any background elements or symbolic objects beyond her attire and inscription focuses entirely on the individual, presenting a study in character rather than narrative. The portrait seems less concerned with idealizing beauty and more intent on documenting an individual’s presence within a specific historical context, conveying a sense of gravity and understated power.