Portrait of Geertruide de Jode (d.1642), bust-length, in a black cap and white ruff

The present panel derives from van Dyck's double portrait of Geertruide de Jode and her husband Jan de Wael at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, which he painted in 1629 (see Barnes et. al., loc. cit.). Both families held close links to van Dyck, with multiple members sitting for portraits. Geertruide de Jode was born into a family of important engravers; the artist painted a double portrait of her father, Gerard de Jode, a cartographer and publisher, and her brother Pieter de Jode I, printmaker and draughtsman (now at the Capitoline Museum, Rome). Like van Dyck, both were made masters at the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp.

In 1588 Geertruide married the painter Jan de Wael (1558-1633), a pupil of Frans Francken II and later dean of the Guild. He trained their sons Lucas and Cornelis in painting; the brothers would later move to Genoa and form a close friendship with van Dyck, who often stayed with him on his frequent trips to the city. He painted their portrait in circa 1622-4 (now also in the Capitoline Gallery, Rome).