Like a pair of pendant paintings, François Dieussart portrayed the Spierings in two separate busts, with their faces turning towards each other. As was traditional, the husband is on the left with his wife on the right. By allowing their line of vision to cross, the artist turned the portraits into companion pieces. Dieussart would have seen examples of similar artistic solutions during his apprenticeship in Italy. These white marble busts were made in a particularly restrained, natural style. Nevertheless, Pieter Spiering has a regal air about him.
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