Anne Bill

after Simon de Passe

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a half-length portrait of a woman depicted in the form of a bust within an oval frame. The woman is positioned centrally, facing directly forward. Her facial features include closed eyes and a calm expression, and her hair is covered with a cap adorned with lace. Around her, she wears a dark drape and under it, a dress with a high lace collar. Above the portrait, an angel with wings is positioned, looking down towards the oval frame, and a hand is resting on top of the frame. The angel's hair is curly and flows to the shoulders. The setting includes a large, decorative architectural element resembling a pedestal or monument supporting the frame. Above this, an opened book with a quill and some sort of horn rest over it. The background features a scene with clouds and appears to depict a landscape with trees and hills extending into the distance. Latin inscriptions are present around the image, providing textual context.