Artwork
The Attentive Nurse
The Attentive Nurse is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin. It dates from 1747 and is held in the collection of the Samuel H. Kress Collection.
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- Inscribed:lower right in brown paint: Chardin.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The Attentive Nurse depicts a standing woman in a kitchen, carefully breaking the shell of a soft-boiled egg.
The Attentive Nurse depicts a standing woman in a kitchen, carefully breaking the shell of a soft-boiled egg. According to the French and Spanish Wikipedia entries, she is a housewife preparing a meal to be served to a convalescent, and the painting was originally exhibited at the Paris Salon under the title Les Aliments de la convalescence (Food for the Convalescent). The modest domestic subject of a caregiver nourishing a recovering patient reflects Chardin's signature focus on quiet scenes of everyday life, a theme the Spanish source notes resonated with viewers across social classes, including the aristocracy.
The egg, prepared with deliberate care, functions as the central symbol of nourishment and attentive solicitude, embodying the virtue of the watchful nurse implied by the painting's current title.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1747, this work is an oil painting on canvas with vertical dimensions of approximately 46.2 by 37 centimeters. The composition depicts a standing woman within a kitchen setting, captured in the act of peeling a hard-boiled egg. This domestic scene, originally exhibited under the title "Foods for Convalescence," exemplifies Chardin's focus on modest subjects that appealed to diverse social strata, including the aristocracy.
The artist's handling of the medium emphasizes the quiet dignity of everyday labor, presenting the figure preparing a meal for a recovering patient with careful attention to detail.
History & Provenance
The Attentive Nurse, painted by Jean‑Siméon Chardin in 1747, is an oil on canvas genre scene measuring 46.2 × 37 cm. The work entered the collection of Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein, Austrian ambassador to France, who acquired it from the artist between 1737 and 1741. It subsequently passed by inheritance through the princely family of Liechtenstein to Prince Franz Josef II, remaining in their possession at least until 1948. In November 1950 the painting was sold by Frederick Mont, Inc. to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, which gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1952.
Originally shown at the Paris Salon as “Les Aliments de la convalescence,” the composition portrays a kitchen maid breaking an egg for a convalescent patient.
The painting is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Its path to the museum began with a purchase from Frederick Mont, Inc. by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation on November 1, 1950, followed by a gift to the gallery in 1952. Prior to this, the work descended through the Princes of Liechtenstein until at least 1948.
Regarding its exhibition history, the artwork was displayed at the Salon de peinture et de sculpture in Paris. At that time, it was exhibited under the alternative title Les Aliments de la convalescence (The Food of Convalescence).
Context
Jean‑Siméon Chardin’s 1747 oil, The Attentive Nurse, exemplifies his mastery of genre scenes that elevate everyday domestic moments. Contemporary Salon records note its presentation under the title Les Aliments de la convalescence, reflecting Enlightenment interest in caretaking and health [3]. The work’s modest subject matter resonated with aristocratic patronage, aligning with Chardin’s broader reputation for dignified portrayals of household labor [4].
Acquired by Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein before entering the Samuel H. Kress Collection in 1950 and gifting to the National Gallery of Art in 1952, the painting now serves as a key reference point for studies of 18th‑century French genre painting and the evolution of collector interest in French art [1][2]
Overview
Jean Siméon Chardin's painting, The Attentive Nurse, created in 1747, is an oil on canvas work depicting a quiet domestic moment. This genre scene focuses on an ordinary individual engaged in daily tasks, a common theme for the artist. The composition invites viewers to observe a simple yet intimate portrayal of household life, characteristic of Chardin's approach to everyday subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Siméon Chardin (French:; November 2, 1699 – December 6, 1779) was an 18th-century French painter.
