A Writer Trimming his Pen, Jan Ekels (II), 1784
While studying in Paris as a young man, Ekels came to appreciate 17th-century Dutch masters – such as Metsu and Ter Borch – who specialized in interior scenes with one or more figures. He made this painting, an example of this genre, upon returning to his native Amsterdam. E ...
Secretary, anonymous, c. 1780 - c. 1790
Many desks of this type, veneered with light-coloured woods, were made in the Netherlands. This example is unusual for its large plaquettes of jasperware, a fine-grained pottery that imitates carved stone. The plaquettes came from the factory of Josiah Wedgwood in England. Wedgwood ...
Charger with a qilin, anonymous, c. 1350
This charger is painted with a qilin, a mythical beast. According to legend, a qilin has the scaly skin of a dragon, the body of a deer and the hooves and tail of an ox. It is a benign creature, which refrains from stepping on insects or eating live grass. The qilin possesses both male (qi) a ...
Woman at a Mirror, Gerard ter Borch (II), c. 1652
The impeccably groomed young woman glances up questioningly at an older woman in dark clothing. The lady’s facial expression is clear to see in the mirror before her. The painter has imbued the scene with deeper meaning, for the mirror signifies vanity and the transience of life. ...