Saint Mary Magdalene Reading, 1600 - Master of the Female Half-lengths

I posted this mainly because of the impressive title applied to the unknown artist. Was there really such a demand for truncated ladies that a specialist was required?

Well, it appears that there was: "The Master of the Female Half-Lengths (sometimes referred to as Master of the Half-Lengths) is the name given to a painter, or likely a group of painters of a workshop, active in the sixteenth century. The name was given in the 19th century to identify the maker or makers of a body of work consisting of 67 paintings to which since 40 more have been added. The Master created female figures in genre scenes, small religious and mythological works, landscapes and portraits. The works attributed to the Master of the Female Half-Lengths were apparently the product of a large workshop that specialised in small-scale panels depicting aristocratic young ladies at half-length. The ladies are shown engaging in various activities such as reading, writing, or playing musical instruments. The women all share the same heart-shaped face and gentle demeanour."