A Young Maidservant (c. 1660) by Michael Sweerts

A Young Maidservant - Michael Sweerts - c. 1660

Artwork Information

TitleA Young Maidservant
ArtistMichael Sweerts
Datec. 1660
MediumOil On Canvas
Dimensions61 x 53.5 cm
Current LocationRoyal Cabinet Of Paintings Mauritshuis, The Hague
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About A Young Maidservant

Michael Sweerts painted A Young Maidservant, which dates back to around 1660. It is considered one of his most beautiful works and often compared with Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer. The portrait was created with a mixture of realism and idealization, showing Sweerts’ interest in portraying common people.

The painting is part of Sweerts’s tronies, which were popular during the Dutch Golden Age. Tronies are portraits that do not represent an identifiable person but rather a genre of depictions of exaggerated facial expressions, costumes or character types. They served as studies for artists to experiment with different techniques and styles before taking on larger paintings.

A Young Maidservant also showcases Sweerts’s mastery in rendering subtle light effects through the use of red and brown earth tones that highlight the golden locks of hair framing her face. The painting portrays a young woman staring intently at the viewer while slightly tilting her head to the left side, emphasizing her glistening blue eyes and parted lips that add between her youthfulness and innocence.

It is believed that this artwork was likely painted in either Brussels or Amsterdam – both cities where Sweerts worked during his career as an artist. In conclusion, Michael Sweerts’s A Young Maidservant is an excellent example of tronie portraiture from the Dutch Golden Age period that highlights his talent for capturing intimate glimpses into everyday life through masterful rendering techniques, providing art lovers with valuable insights into art history.’

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