DUTCH GENRE PAINTING

1. DUTCH GENRE PAINTING Woman Holding a Balance by Vermeer, c. 1664

2. DUTCH GENRE PAINTING Still Life by William Claesz. Heda Feast of St. Nicholas by Jan Steen

3. DUTCH STILL LIFE: MORALIZING MEANINGS Still Life by Willem Claesz. Heda (1636) Lemon: looks  but has a bitter taste; metaphor for the deceptive nature of worldly pleasure.

4. DUTCH GENRE PAINTING: MORALIZING MEANINGS Life of Man by Jan Steen (c.1665)  Boy blowing bubbles and skull: vanitas, insignificance of worldly pursuits, desires

5. DUTCH GENRE PAINTING: MORALIZING MEANINGS Sleeping Sportsman by Gabriel Metsu (c.1660) “Vogelen” (birds): slang for sex  

6. DUTCH GENRE PAINTING: MORALIZING MEANINGS The Morning Toilet by Jan Steen (1663) Candle and open jewel box: “Neither does one buy pearls in the dark, nor does one look for love at night.” (period cliché) “Kous” (stocking): slang for vagina She is a prostitute; moral about illicit sex Candle and open jewel box  Putting on stocking 

7. DUTCH STILL LIFE: MORALIZING MEANINGS Still Life by Willem Claesz. Heda (1636) Lemon: looks  but has a bitter taste; metaphor for the deceptive nature of worldly pleasure.

8. DUTCH STILL LIFE: MORALIZING MEANINGS  Withered branch  Snuffed out candle Transience History book   Over-turned glass  Burned out pipes Vanitas Still Lifes by Harmen Steenwijck (c.1640s)

9. VERMEER: KNOWN DOCUMENTATION OF HIS LIFE --In a 20+ year career as a painter, may not have painted more than 50 works. --Born and baptized in Delft in 1632 --Father owned a tavern (in the same building as their home), designed and sold silk cloth, and was registered as a master art dealer --Registered with Guild of St. Luke in 1653, dues not fully paid until 1656. Periodically listed as a board member. Registry, Guild of St. Luke

10. VERMEER: KNOWN DOCUMENTATION OF HIS LIFE --Married in 1653; his wife’s mother, Maria Thins, had an small but impressive art collection. --Apparently had a patron named Van Ruijven, who had rights of first refusal on his works. Van Ruijven owned at least 20 Vermeers, dating from the 1650s to the 1670s. It is believed Van Ruijven kept Vermeer on a retainer—this is not specifically documented, but Van Ruijven’s cousin had exactly such an arrangement with Gerard Dou. Registry, Guild of St. Luke

11. VERMEER: KNOWN DOCUMENTATION OF HIS LIFE --Various loan certificates survive. --Vermeer took over his father’s house and tavern, but had to rent them out in 1672 and move to a smaller house. --Dies in 1676, leaving 8 children and various debts; his widow is forced to give some of his paintings to a baker as a collateral for a bakery bill. Registry, Guild of St. Luke

12. VERMEER: KNOWN DOCUMENTATION OF HIS LIFE --His widow petitions for bankruptcy; various paintings seized to cover debts, including 26 by a merchant against a grocery bill. Notice of bankruptcy of Vermeer’s widow

13. VERMEER: MORALIZING MEANINGS Maidservant Pouring Milk: domestic virtue?—women at chores Nurturing?—milk

14. VERMEER: MORALIZING MEANINGS Christ in judgment   The Last Judgment The Saved   The Damned Lady Weighing Gold Scales: vanitas 

15. VERMEER: MORALIZING MEANINGS Takes place of  St. Michael, bridge between secular and sacred worlds: as you judge in this world, someday you will be judged St. Michael with scales judging souls  By Hans Memling (15th century)