Adriaen van der Werff: A Courtier’s Painter of Intrigue and Grace Born in Rotterdam in 1659, Adriaen van der Werff emerged from a family steeped in the artistic traditions of the Dutch Golden Age. While his father, Eglon van der Neer, was a respected drapery painter known for his meticulous detail and ability to capture the texture of fabrics, young Adriaen quickly distinguished himself with an aptitude for portraiture – a genre that would define his career and ultimately secure his place as one of the most celebrated artists of his era. His early training involved mastering the intricacies…