Shop art print and framed art Jeune homme écrivant by Gabriel Metsu

Man Writing a Letter is an oil painting on a wood panel by Gabriël Metsu made at the height of his career. It is assumed to be a pair with Woman Reading a Letter. The two genre paintings (together with The Sick Child) are regarded as Metsu's artistic climax. Since 1987 they can be seen in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. The painting shows a young man sitting in front of an open window, writing a letter with a quill pen. He is dressed in a black silk suit with a white linen shirt underneath. The Persian rug and silver writing set on the table also show his wealth. The globe in the corner indicates his interest, as if he is a merchant or scientist. A pastoral landscape by Jacob van der Does the Elder is hanging on the wall; on top of the gilded frame a dove is carved. The Delftware tiles on the baseboard show birds. Man Writing a Letter is a companion piece to Woman Reading a Letter, in which the woman has received the young man's letter and is reading it intently. Metsu likely got the idea for a pair of themed paintings from Gerard ter Borch, who had painted a similar pair, Man Writing a Letter and A Woman Sealing a Letter, as he sold his paintings all over for exorbitant prices. The influence of Johannes Vermeer, the light from the left, the marble floor, are also unmistakable in the painting, though Metsu requires more emotional involvement of the viewer. Records indicate the paintings have always been owned as a pair. The paintings were owned [...]

 

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the baroque style.

 

« Jeune homme écrivant » is kept at Musee des Beaux-Arts, Rouen, France.

 

Find the full description of Jeune homme écrivant by Gabriel Metsu on Wikipedia.