A young Lady, facing right in embroidered white dress with lace collar, drop pearl suspended from black ribbon choker, drop pearl earrings, long fair hair

Cornelius Jonson van Ceulen was one of a number of immigrant artists who also included members of the Russel, Gheeraerts and De Critz families who were active in London in the early 17th century. On 10th October 1643 the Journals of the House of Commons record his pending departure as 'Cornelius Johnson, Picture Drawer, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to pass beyond seas with Emanuel Passe and George Hawkins and carry with him such pictures and colours, bedding, household stuff, pewter and brass as belonged to himself' (D. Foskett, A Dictionary of British Miniature Painters, London, 1972, p. 356). Jonson is best known for his large oil portraits but he also executed miniatures in oil and in watercolour. A miniature of a gentleman signed on the reverse 'C. Johnson Fecit 1639' is at Welbeck Abbey (R. Goulding, The catalogue of Miniatures at Welbeck Abbey, Oxford, 1916, no. 78, ill. pl. XIV).