Portrait of Amalia Eliza Tilanus-van Leeuwen, Thérèse Schwartze, 1900
Amalia Tilanus-van Leeuwen had herself regally portrayed by the most fashionable artist of the time: Thérèse Schwartze. The colourful and detailed likeness is illustrative of Schwartze’s success. With an amazing mastery of pastel, and a hint of flattery, she deftly captured her patron’s character. Tilanus had to splurge for such a magnificent portrait. In keeping with her status as a celebrated portraitist, Schwartze was pricey to say the least.