Artwork
Self-portrait of the artist with his wife Isabella de Wolff in the inn
Self-portrait of the artist with his wife Isabella de Wolff in the inn is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gabriel Metsu. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a man and a woman seated at a table, with a modest breakfast spread that underscores themes of domesticity and intimacy.
Gabriel Metsu depicts himself together with his wife Isabella de Wolff within an inn setting, a composition that blends portraiture with genre scenes of daily life. The painting shows a man and a woman seated at a table, with a modest breakfast spread that underscores themes of domesticity and intimacy. Symbolic details such as the modest furnishings and the presence of food convey the private, affectionate bond between the couple while also reflecting contemporary Dutch middle‑class values of marital harmony and prosperity.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on oakwood panel, measuring 36 cm in height and 31 cm in width. Executed in 1661, it portrays the artist alongside his wife Isabella de Wolff within an inn setting, arranged as a genre scene with elements of breakfast. The composition combines intimate portraiture with narrative detail, reflecting the stylistic conventions of Dutch Golden Age genre painting.
The surface exhibits fine brushwork and careful rendering of interior textures, contributing to its refined formal balance and realistic handling of light.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1661, as indicated by the date inscribed on the canvas and corroborated by the work’s Wikidata entry.
The provenance traces the painting to the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, where it is currently held as part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The work entered the Dresden collection as part of the holdings of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, which has maintained custody since at least the period documented in the institution’s records.
The painting is held by the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, where it is inventoried as an oil painting on oak panel.
It was first recorded in 1661, the year of its creation, and has remained in Dresden’s holdings since at least the eighteenth century.
Overview
In 1661 Gabriel Metsu painted an oil canvas that presents himself together with his wife, Isabella de Wolff, seated in the interior of an inn. The couple is shown sharing a simple morning meal at a wooden table, surrounded by the cluttered furnishings typical of a tavern setting. The work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age and is now part of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gabriël Metsu (1629–1667) was a Dutch painter of history paintings, still lifes, portraits, and genre works.
