| Woman in a Red Dress | |
|---|---|
| Head of a Black Woman | |
 | |
| Artist | Gabriël Metsu  |
| Year | 1667 |
| Dimensions | 22.9 cm (9.0 in) × 17.8 cm (7.0 in) |
| Location | Polesden Lacey |
| Collection | National Trust |
| Accession No. | 1246502 |
| Identifiers | Art UK artwork ID: woman-in-a-red-dress-217806 |
Portrait of a Lady in a Red Dress is a painting by Dutch artist Gabriël Metsu, created c. 1660-1669. It has been in England since 1828 and in the collection of Polesden Lacey since 1922.[1]
The motif of a figure presented in a "niche" follows a style made popular by Metsu's teacher, Gerrit Dou. The central figure is a black woman dressed in a similar red bodice worn by Metsu's wife Isabella de Wolff in a portrait he painted soon after he married her in Enkhuizen in 1658. Like other contemporary Leiden fijnschilders, Metsu has chosen the subject of a niche or window to frame his subject. The popular motif generally includes a curtain for a dramatic effect, and though Metsu painted curtains sparingly, he has chosen to place his subject prominently in front of a closed curtain here. Her portrayal at first glance needs no other supporting commentary, unlike his other "niche" paintings which are adorned with details in the typical "Dou" manner. A closer look reveals an interesting bas-relief under the window, which appears to be a Metsu variation of Francois Duquesnoy's frieze of Children Playing with a Goat. Though its meaning is lost, it shows a clue (along with her dress) that this woman is someone connected to Metsu's circle and was possibly a model for other Leiden painters.
-
Portrait of Isabella de Wolff in the same dress, but with a chemise -
Metsu's self-portrait at a window, with a bust by Duquesnoy -
Dou's The Grocer's Shop, with the frieze
References
[edit]- ^ 1246502, painting record in the National Trust
External links
[edit]- A Negress, at a Window in the c.1942 Polesden Lacey catalog, on archive.org
- The Great British Art Tour: a girl with a pearl earring, 14 April 2021 article in The Guardian
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction