The wealthy Dutch of the 17th century love painting but artist's life remains difficult. Circa 1653 Gabriel Metsu leaves his native Leiden where he had too many competitors. Arriving in Amsterdam he also takes the business of chicken farmer.
In this second part of his career Metsu renounces to the religious and historical themes for specializing in the genre scenes that appeal his new customers. Do not look for social information in his works. At the best of his art, he shows young men and young women occupied in ordinary activities in sumptuous garments. The fairly dense compositions add also some music, food and a dog.
On May 26 in New York, Sotheby's sells an oil on canvas 41 x 36 cm painted around 1660 by Metsu, lot 49 estimated $ 6M. This piece had belonged to a Rothschild collection and was confiscated by the Nazis.
In this young couple which is ignoring the disapproval of the faithful dog, the woman seems to be more enterprising, perhaps because she is in a favorable light. She looks at her friend while presenting a glass of wine. The young officer has put his sword on a cushion. He is not interested in wine and extends a hand toward the shoulder of the woman.
A scene on the same subject dated from the same period, oil on panel 64 x 47 cm also realized with chiaroscuro effects, is kept in the Louvre Museum.
I invite you to watch the very short video shared by Sotheby's.
withdrawn
In this second part of his career Metsu renounces to the religious and historical themes for specializing in the genre scenes that appeal his new customers. Do not look for social information in his works. At the best of his art, he shows young men and young women occupied in ordinary activities in sumptuous garments. The fairly dense compositions add also some music, food and a dog.
On May 26 in New York, Sotheby's sells an oil on canvas 41 x 36 cm painted around 1660 by Metsu, lot 49 estimated $ 6M. This piece had belonged to a Rothschild collection and was confiscated by the Nazis.
In this young couple which is ignoring the disapproval of the faithful dog, the woman seems to be more enterprising, perhaps because she is in a favorable light. She looks at her friend while presenting a glass of wine. The young officer has put his sword on a cushion. He is not interested in wine and extends a hand toward the shoulder of the woman.
A scene on the same subject dated from the same period, oil on panel 64 x 47 cm also realized with chiaroscuro effects, is kept in the Louvre Museum.
I invite you to watch the very short video shared by Sotheby's.
withdrawn
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