...Salomon de Bray’s skills at observation are evident as is the lighting which seems oddly fresh and vibrant for a Dutch painter. De Bray's artistic development is not well documented. In 1635 he seemed to favor half-length figures, which at that time had become rather old-fashioned. By about 1640, his work showed the influence of Rembrandt van Rijn's “chiaroscuro”. The term chiaroscuro refers to a strong, self-conscious juxtaposition of light and shade which results in a stunning visual effect in a work of art. The technique was initially pioneered by Leonardo da Vinci, further developed by Caravaggio, and finally perfected by Rembrandt. [https://traveltoeat.com/salomon-de-bray-louvre/] Perhaps Salmacis from Ovid. ...But she would not pick up a javelin... Instead she would bathe her beautiful limbs and tend to her hair, with her waters as a mirror. Ovid, Metamorphoses. Book IV, 306-312 (http://books0977.tumblr.com/post/168522684027/jeune-femme-vue-en-buste-1635-salomon-de-bray)