The coat of arms, the woman’s age and the date of the work given on the canvas enabled her identification. She was baptised in Alkmaar in 1621 and died there in 1669 at the age of 48.

This is most certainly a posthumous portrait, as is shown by the date, the sickly aspect, black clothes and the skull. It is possible that the work was carried out by two painters, one coming from outside to do the face and hands and a second from the town to do the clothes and background.