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| Gesina ter Borch Self Portrait 1661 watercolor Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Hendrick van Beaumont Portrait of a Woman 1696 watercolor Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Anonymous Italian painter Giustitia (Justice) ca. 1650-1720 oil on canvas Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
"It is true, that there are more Errors committed in speaking than in silence: for words are light and subtle, and too airy, that when they are once flown out, cannot be recalled again, but only by asking pardon with more: and there is an old saying, To talk much, and well, is seldom heard. Which cannot be verified in all: for some will speak well as long as there is grounds to speak on, but the length of time makes it sound to the ear as Wine tastes to a drunken man, when he cannot relish between good and bad: so that it is not only the Matter, but the Manner, Time, and Subject, in Speaking, which makes it so hard to speak well, or please many: and though it be always pleasing to the Speaker to delight others, yet that doth not always please others that he delights to speak of; as there is nothing more tedious to strangers than to hear a man talk much of himself, or to weary them with long Complements; and though civility in that kind ought to be used, yet they should carry such forms and times as not to lose respect to themselves, or to be over-troublesome in long expressions to others."
– Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, from the essay Of Silence (1671)
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| Agostino Carracci Study of young woman looking down ca. 1600-1630 engraved by Luca Ciamberlano for drawing book of pattern prints British Museum |
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| Peter Borseller Portrait of a Lady before 1687 oil on canvas Tate Gallery |
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| Adam de Colone Portrait of Lady Margaret Livingstone, 2nd Countess of Wigtown 1625 oil on canvas Tate Gallery |
"Those that have very quick Thoughts, shall speak readier than write; because in speaking they are not tied to any style or number: besides, in speaking, Thoughts lie loose and careless; but in writing they are gathered up, and are like water in a Cup whose mouth is held downward; for every drop striving to be out first, stops the passage; or like the common people in an uproar, that run without order and disperse without success; when slow and strong Thoughts come well-armed and in good order, discharge with courage, and go off with honour."
– Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, from the essay Of the Motion of Thoughts in Speaking and Writing (1655)
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| Anonymous French goldsmith Brooch depicting a Helmeted Woman ca. 1500-1600 Baroque pearls set in enameled gold Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Peter Lely Girl with a Parrot ca. 1670 oil on canvas Tate Gallery |
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| attributed to Il Sodoma Painting of Venus at the Royal Museum in the Hague ca. 1525 carbon print (ca. 1880) attributed to Adolphe Braun Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Cornelius Johnson Portrait of a Lady 1659 oil on canvas Tate Gallery |
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| Pieter Dubordieu Portrait of a Woman 1637 oil on panel Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Jacob Gole after Gottfried Schalcken Young Woman with Fan ca. 1670-1726 engraving Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Gortzius Geldorp Portrait of Hortensia del Prado 1599 oil on panel Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Frans Hals Portrait of a Woman ca. 1635 oil on canvas Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
"They are not mistaken that think all Poets wits: but those are mistaken that think there is no other wit but in Poets, or to think wit lies in mere jests, or only in words, or Method, or scholastical knowledge, for many may be very wise and knowing, yet have not much wit: not but wit may be in every one of these before mentioned, for wit makes use of all things, but wit is the purest element and swiftest motion of the brain: it is the essence of thoughts, it encircles all things: and true wit is like the Elixir that keeps nature always fresh and young. Some think wit no wit when it is not understood, but surely a fool makes not the wit the less, although it loseth its aim if none knows it but the author."
– Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, from the essay Some Thoughts on Poets (1671)