Gabriel Metsu (Leiden, 1629 – Amsterdam, 1667) follower
The Lute Player
First half of the eighteenth century
Oil on canvas (61 x 47 cm - Framed 76 x 61 cm)
Full details of the painting (Click HERE)
This high-quality painting embraces a genre greatly appreciated by collectors of Flemish painting from the "Golden Age," which focuses on the family intimacy that was created within the wealthy homes of the bourgeoisie of the time, with settings overflowing with ornamental details.
The genius and success of these images lies in the ability to fix, through a sort of photographic still, a particular domestic situation; all through a skillful pictorial rendering that leverages great attention to detail and the play of light.
The paintings thus become snapshots that capture moments of everyday domestic life of those times, taking us into the drawing rooms of the era.
In our case, we are in front of an important, richly furnished home, with precious furniture, paintings and objects, from the stone fireplace with pilasters in the shape of fantastic figures, surmounted by porcelain vessels, to the credenza with gilded statues, to the paintings hanging on the walls up to the damask tablecloth on which are placed a silver jug and some fruit.
The protagonists of the canvas are a married couple immortalized in a moment of everyday life: the husband is sitting playing a lute, one of the most popular pastimes for the wealthy bourgeois of the time, while the wife, sumptuously dressed in a light satin dress and a feathered headdress, sits beside him and entertains herself with their little dog, passing him a biscuit in exchange for his obedience.
In each painting one reads a story, because the works of the seventeenth-century Dutch artists have the ability to create a surprising atmosphere, immediately taking us back in time, that is, to the golden age of the Netherlands.
The work, highly refined in detail, can be attributed to an author active between the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, and evokes the compositions devised by Gabriel Metsu (Leiden, 1629 – Amsterdam, 1667), active especially in Amsterdam, where he became a successful and fashionable painter, creating genre works with an abundance of detail, especially conversation pieces depicting the life of the bourgeoisie, reveal the influence of Johannes Vermeer, the great master of Delft.
A similar painting is present in the RKD collection, as a follower (Dorotheum Alte Meister, 2011-06-16, lot 363)
https://research.rkd.nl/nl/detail/https%3A%2F%2Fdata.rkd.nl%2Fimages%2F241015
Among his students was Michiel van Musscher (Rotterdam, 1645 - Amsterdam, 1705), who often took up his compositional ideas, taking the same care in rendering details. A detail that emerges at first glance is the care that has been lavished on the rendering of the dress, the shine of the silk satin is a masterly touch. As is the theatrical treatment of light that highlights the main figures.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work is sold complete with a gilded wooden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.
We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works.
In the event of the purchase of the work by non-Italian customers, it will be necessary to obtain an export permit which takes approximately 10/20 days, our gallery will take care of the entire phase until obtaining it. All costs of this operation are included.
Contact us, without obligation, for any further information.
Follow us on :
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/
