The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows
The Met
Artist: Bernard van Orley(Netherlandish, Brussels ca. 1492–1541/42 Brussels)
Date: ca. 1514–15
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on wood
Dimensions: 25 × 30 in. (63.5 × 76.2 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Hertha Katz, 2000
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Women bathing a baby by a bed; an outdoor courtyard with figures and a peacock
Detailed Description
This painting depicts a complex scene divided into two main areas by a dark architectural column. The right side portrays an indoor setting, dominated by a large four-poster bed draped in rich red fabric. A pale woman, wearing a white cap and holding a book, lies in the bed, partially covered by the red drapery. Below the bed, three women attend to a naked baby. One woman, dressed in a voluminous white gown with puffed sleeves, sits on the floor, observing the scene. Another woman, in a blue dress, holds the baby over a wooden basin placed on a low stool. A third woman, wearing a green dress, kneels beside the basin, assisting with the baby's bath. In the background of this indoor scene, a bearded man and another woman are partially visible through a doorway, looking into the room. The floor is tiled with light and dark squares. The left side of the painting presents an outdoor architectural space. A series of dark columns and arches frame a paved courtyard. Several figures, dressed in long robes of red, blue, and green, are seen walking or standing on steps within this courtyard. In the lower left foreground, a peacock with dark plumage stands on a low wall, facing towards the right. The ground is paved with light-colored bricks, and further architectural details of a building or street scene are visible in the background.
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