Rich & independent

Maria van Nesse (1588-1650)

November 26, 2022 to March 19, 2023

Maria van Nesse was a wealthy woman in seventeenth-century Alkmaar. She was unmarried and spent her many dollars on her own authority. This made her exceptional: wealthy women were sought-after marriage partners, rarely remained unmarried, and often lost control of their assets in marriage. Mary did not: she remained unattached and thus independent.

Added to this is an even more extraordinary fact: Maria kept in her memoir book resolutely and meticulously what she spent on what, and also noted other kinds of facts she wanted to remember (recipes for medicine or meals, household tips and some personal facts). Such sources are not known from other wealthy women. Maria's book provides a rare glimpse into an extraordinary life.

New perspectives

Among other things, the memoir offers important new perspectives on the seventeenth-century art market, argues Judith Noorman, who is an art historian at the University of Amsterdam and author of The unique memoir book of Maria van Nesse. 'It is always said that seventeenth-century art was made for and by men, but this completely new source shows that the image of that world of men is totally outdated. Van Nesse has as many as a hundred art purchases and describes them in detail.'

The exhibition

The exhibition reconstructs Maria van Nesse's remarkably independent life in Alkmaar based on her unique memoir book and will be on view at Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar from November 26, 2022 through March 19, 2023.

The unique memoir book of Maria van Nesse

Let Judith Noorman and Robbert Jan van der Maal take you into the world of Mary and discover all kinds of new perspectives on daily life in the seventeenth century. The book is now on sale, for example via Walburg Press (visit website).

About the authors

Judith Noorman
Judith Noorman is associate professor of early modern art history at the UvA. She is leading a multi-year NWO research project on the impact of women in the seventeenth-century art market.

Robbert Jan van der Maal
Robbert Jan van der Maal works as manager of finance at the Concertgebouw Orchestra. He is an editor of the genealogical-heraldic journal De Nederlandsche Leeuw.