Michiel van Mierevelt was the most celebrated portrait artist of his day. In 1631, the famous writer and connoisseur Constantijn Huijgens called him 'the foremost in this genre'. His reputation was based principally on his ability to achieve a perfect likeness, the three-dimensional quality of his faces, the detail of the clothes and attributes and the pleasant light effect. Van Mierevelt had a meticulous style and employed a steady brush. As a result, his prominent patrons and subjects often appear somewhat distant. On the other hand, his portraits radiate an attractive calm.