Attributed to Justus Sustermans

Sir George Lindsay Holford (1860-1926), of Dorchester House, Park Lane and Westonbirt, Gloucestershire;
His deceased sale, London, Christie's, 17 May 1928, lot 44, where bought by Leggatt Brothers for 105 guineas;
With Leggatt Brothers, London, from whom acquired by the father of the present owner.

Advertisement in Country Life, 9 June 1928, vol. LXIII (when with Leggatt Brothers).

The canvas has an old lining which is stable. The painting is in good overall condition, with apparently no major damages other than a small restored hole towards the upper left corner. There is some retouching and strengthening to the lower central part of the dress and some small retouchings on both hands and to the left of the sitter's mouth, but none of these are significant. Sold with a gilt wood cassetta frame, in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Maria Maddalena of Austria (1589-1631) was the youngest daughter of Charles II, Archduke of Austria, and the wife of Cosimo de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The present sitter and Maria Maddalena have similar physiognomical features as seen in the portrait by Sustermans in the Boymans-van Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam (see K. Langedijk, The Portraits of the Medici, vol. II Florence 1983, p. 1301, no. 90.71). The present sitter holds a drawing of the Magdelene and it is interesting to note that Maria Maddalena of Austria celebrated her name-saint in another allegorical portrait by Sustermans depicting her as the Penitnent Magdalene (see Langedijk, op. cit., p. 1288, no. 90.28).

The notable Holford collection was divided between Sir George's house in Gloucestershire, Westonbirt and his London home, Dorchester House. Sir George compiled one of the most important Old Master collections of the century and it included many famous works now in public collections across the globe such as Lorenzo Lotto's Portrait of a Lady (National Gallery, London); Velázquez's Portrait of Philip IV (Ringling Museum, Sarasota); Bellini's Portrait of a Boy (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery); and Rembrandt's Portrait of Marten Looten (Los Angeles County Musuem of Art).