Dutch Golden Age painters are renowned for their scenes of every-day life, but this one by Gabriel Metsu is highly unusual. The theme of a woman taking care of a child was common, often representing the Christian virtue of Caritas. What is rare about this canvas, however, is the depiction of the pale and sick looking child, hanging almost lifeless on the woman’s lap.
The image is so convincing because Metsu portrayed the child so skillfully. He painted the unhealthy hue of its skin perfectly, which is emphasized by the strong colors in the rest of the painting. The composition and the woman’s obvious dedication draw all our attention to the boy or girl. Personally, I never skip this one when visiting the Rijks and the penetrating, hollow eyes of the sick child always haunt me for a while.
Gabriel Metsu (1629-1667) was a pupil of the famous, Leiden based, Gerrit Dou. From December 16 to March 20, the Rijksmuseum will dedicate an exhibition to Metsu’s work, about which I will inform you later.
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