La ragazza con l'orecchino di perla by Tracy Chevalier

The use of light and shadows is almost exaggerated here. Nicolas Tulp is probably Rembrandt van Rijn’s most famous painting. The colours are always a little muted and the lines are never too sharp, giving the picturesque and peaceful atmosphere typical of his painting. Note that although Rubens takes Caravaggio as an example, his personal style remains unmistakable.

It is the light and shadows that give shape to the figures and draw the scene, making it look incredibly natural and realistic. The same happens with the boy’s face, slightly tilted in profile.

The warm light of the candle illuminates one part of the old woman’s face, leaving the other half in shadow. In Old Woman with Boy and Candles, two things are visible above all: the extraordinary use of light, characteristic not only of Rubens but of the greatest Dutch painters, and the undoubted influence of the works of Caravaggio, whom Rubens had the opportunity to admire in Italy and whose plastic use of chiaroscuro served as a model for several European artists of the 17th century. Within the walls of the Mauritshuis are the works of one of the best known artists of the 17th century: Paul Rubens.

Old Woman with Boy and Candles, Paul Rubens The fact is that the attention to detail in the painting is maniacal and already reveals one of the main characteristics of Flemish art. A patron Alexander the Great therefore and a profound lover of art is what emerges from this story.Ĭould this also be why the room is so full of works? Legend has it that the great leader, once he saw the work completed by Apelles, fell in love with it so much that he preferred it to the real Campaspe, giving the latter to the artist. The protagonist of the scene, which then gives the work its title, is on the left and is intent on portraying the beautiful Campaspe, Alexander the Great’s lover.

It is an example of meta-painting: a painting within a painting.Ī large number of paintings, all actually existing, from Flemish, German and Italian art are in fact depicted within the scene, together with some famous classical sculptures. One of the first paintings we come across is Apollo portrae Campaspe, by Willem van Haecht. Apollo Portraying Campaspe, Willem van Haecht

La ragazza con l'orecchino di perla by Tracy Chevalier