The Sick Child, Gabriël Metsu, c. 1664 - c. 1666

The Sick Child, Gabriël Metsu, c. 1664 - c. 1666

oil on canvas, h 32.2cm × w 27.2cm More details

In 1663, the plague ravaged Amsterdam, claiming one in ten lives. Around this time, Metsu painted this picture of a mother comforting her sick child. Their posture evokes a pieta: the Virgin Mary with the body of Jesus on her lap. The painting on the wall, depicting Christ on the cross, serves as a poignant reminder of that suffering.

On display in room 2.25

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