Isabella de Wolff, the Artist's Wife

Afterafter Gabriel Metsu (Dutch, 1629 - 1667)

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

Status

On view

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.

Object number78.20.21B