Isabella, the Artist's Wife
Maker
Gabriel Metsu
(Dutch, 1629 - 1667)
Collections
ClassificationsPAINTINGS
Dateca. 1660
Mediumoil on panel
Dimensions8 1/2 x 7 in. (21.6 x 17.8 cm.)
Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Adele S. Browning Memorial Collection, gift of Mildred Browning Green and Honorable Lucius Peyton Green
Label TextIn his self-portrait (#78.20.21A), Gabriel Metsu's stance—one arm leaning casually over the back of his chair and his gaze directed out toward the viewer—displays overt self-confidence. His wife, on the other hand, appears serene and self-contained. Dutch portrait artists were praised for their ability to communicate a sense of their sitters' personalities. While Metsu's portrait conveys the swagger of the successful artist, that of his wife emphasizes the ideal of feminine reserve.Status
On viewObject number78.20.21B
John Hoppner
ca. 1789
Object number: 24.31
