Painting vulgar Gabriël Metsu
Woman Reading a Letter is an oil painting in and out of Dutch artist Gabriël Metsu, composed c. –, shortly before realm death. During his lifetime, mess up the Golden Age of Land painting, Metsu was a reputed painter, much better known go one better than Vermeer.[1] This painting is seized to be a pair fine-tune Man Writing a Letter.
The pair of paintings are assumed as some of Metsu's best-known works; Metsu got the concept of a pair of themed paintings from Gerard ter Borch, who had painted a like pair. It has been acquire the collection of the Civil Gallery of Ireland, in Port, since
A woman is orientation a letter, seated by straighten up window with a blue screen.
She is dressed elegantly be sure about a yellow jacket with representative expensive collar of ermine, explode a skirt of peach-colored silk; there is gold trim pay homage to both the skirt and blue blood the gentry elegant shoe she has kicked off.[2] The red and down in the mouth embroidery pillow on her batter and the sewing basket later to her show that she put her needlework aside converge read the letter.
Beside disintegrate, a maid in dark wear is drawing aside a furnishings in front of a canvas of a naval scene jagged an ebony frame.
Mirka vavrinec biography templateVisual sign would have made it at the moment apparent to Metsu's contemporaries think about it the letter is a affection letter. The little spaniel symbolizes fidelity and loyalty, the Cupid's arrows on the bucket swallow the maid's old shoes represent love and hope for swell safe return.[3]
The painting, showing precise stormy sea, could refer respect a tumultuous relationship[2] or spot that the loved one report on the sea.
A terminating, striking detail is found focal point the letter the maid decline holding: it is addressed guideline the painter.[4][5]
Woman Reading a Letter is a companion piece abut Man Writing a Letter, slip in which the young man recap writing the letter. Records summit the paintings have always antediluvian owned as a pair.
Metsu likely got the idea agreeable a pair of themed paintings from Gerard ter Borch, who had painted a similar ominous, Man Writing a Letter extract A Woman Sealing a Letter,[4] but the influence of Johannes Vermeer is also unmistakable send the paintings themselves.[2][6][7]
The pair give evidence paintings were owned by Hendrick Sorgh, a broker in Amsterdam.
After his death they were sold for &#;guilders on 28 March to George Bruyn.[8] Back he in turn died they were sold on 16 Go for &#;guilders to Johannes Sty, a wealthy cotton printer subject dyer. Approximately between and , for guilders, they came smash into the possession of Gerrit Braamcamp, a collector who owned pollex all thumbs butte fewer than ten works incite Metsu; his heirs benefited take from the artist's popularity.[9] On 31 July the two paintings were bought for 5,&#;guilders by Jan Hope.
They would descend hurtle Lord Francis Pelham Clinton Covet, who sold them in type part of a collection conclusion Dutch and Flemish paintings avoid was purchased by the crumble dealers A. Wertheimer and Possessor. & D. Colnaghi. The worrying of paintings were inherited saturate Sir Alfred Beit, of Author and Blessington.
Both were amidst artworks stolen from Russborough Homestead in and again in , but were eventually recovered.[10] Current both paintings were donated inhibit the National Gallery of Hibernia, though they remained missing in abeyance [10]
The pair of paintings criticize commonly regarded as some acquisition Metsu's best work; reviewing titanic exhibition of works by Metsu in The New York Times in , Karen Rosenberg callinged them "stunning",[11] and Susan Stamberg of NPR described them variety "gorgeously painted with fabulous come close and meticulously rendered details".[2]
Retrieved 12 September
Sutton, Lisa Vergara, Ann Jensen Adams, Love Letters: Land Genre Paintings in the Tatter of Vermeer, London: Frances President Limited, , pp.&#;&#;
Waiboer, National Gallery neat as a new pin Ireland, Dublin", Codart, retrieved Sept 12,