The Sick Child

Gabriel Metsu

c. 1664 - c. 1666

The Sick Child by Gabriel Metsu, c. 1664 - c. 1666

Gabriel Metsu captures a heartbreakingly tender moment in this Dutch Golden Age masterpiece. A mother, widely believed to be Metsu's own wife Isabella, cradles a feverish child on her lap, her expression a mix of worry and devotion. Notice the map on the wall behind them—Metsu cleverly signed his name right on it! This isn't just a standard domestic scene; it's a raw, emotional look at parental anxiety in 17th-century Amsterdam. The soft light falling on the child's pale face makes you feel the quiet tension of the room.

Technique
Oil on canvas
Material
Canvas

Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Views: 1

Related Artworks