A woman sits turned slightly to her right, gazing directly out with a subtle, knowing smile. Her face is softly illuminated, the light falling across her high forehead, rounded cheeks, and the delicate pearls that circle her neck. Her dark hair is pulled back and adorned with a small ornament, while her earrings glint faintly at the edge of her face.

She wears a deep black dress trimmed with gold chains and lace, the bodice open to reveal a white chemise and a glimpse of her décolletage. One hand draws her cloak slightly open, while the other rests gently on a small, closed book with a red cover and gold clasps. The book sits at the bottom edge of the picture, its presence emphasized by the careful rendering of its gilded edges and the way her fingers curl around it.

Behind her, the background is divided: to the left, a shadowy architectural column and curling vine; to the right, a rich red drapery fills the space, creating a dramatic contrast to her pale skin and dark clothing. Rubens uses loose, fluid brushstrokes in the darker areas of the dress and background, while the face and hands are painted with a smoother, more meticulous touch that brings out the sitter’s lifelike presence. Touches of white at her collar and cuffs catch the light, adding texture and drawing attention to the intricate lace and soft folds of fabric.

The composition centers the woman’s face and upper body, her figure filling the frame and her expression engaging the viewer. This is Portrait of Isabella Brant, painted by Peter Paul Rubens around 1626. A book is present in the sitter’s hand, as noted in the museum’s description, and she is characterized by her smile. Peter Paul Rubens is the creator, and the date of execution is given as circa 1626.