Artwork

A girl putting a candle in a lantern and a boy testing the fire in a footwarmer

A girl putting a candle in a lantern and a boy testing the fire in a footwarmer is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Godfried Schalcken. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The handling of the medium reflects the artist's characteristic focus on artificial light sources, a hallmark of Schalcken's style during this period.

Created in 1698, this work by Godfried Schalcken is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The painting measures 46 cm in height and 38 cm in width. As a genre scene, the composition depicts a girl placing a candle into a lantern while a boy tests the fire within a footwarmer.

The handling of the medium reflects the artist's characteristic focus on artificial light sources, a hallmark of Schalcken's style during this period.

History & Provenance

The work was painted in 1698 by Godfried Schalcken.

It entered the present collection as part of the Kabinet van Heteren Gevers, assembled by Adriaan Leonard van Heteren Gevers before 1800. The painting measures 46 cm in height and 38 cm in width and is executed in oil on canvas. The 1698 date is recorded as the year of inception and is associated with the artist’s late period in Dordrecht.

The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, specifically within the Kabinet van Heteren Gevers. It was acquired from Adriaan Leonard van Heteren Gevers and is executed in oil on canvas. While the work dates to 1698, the provided sources do not contain specific accession numbers or a detailed record of past exhibitions.

Overview

A girl putting a candle in a lantern and a boy testing the fire in a footwarmer is a 1700 oil painting by Godfried Schalcken, a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age known for his meticulous, refined style (fijnschilders tradition). The work captures a quiet, everyday moment between two children in a dimly lit setting, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a serene domestic scene: a girl carefully placing a candle in a lantern while a boy nearby checks the warmth of a footwarmer. Their simple attire and the mundane task underscore the piece's genre orientation, focusing on ordinary life's intimate moments.

Context

This work aligns with the Leiden fijnschilders tradition, characterized by refined and detailed painting styles, often capturing everyday life with precision and warmth. The emphasis on light and shadow situates it within broader European artistic explorations of chiaroscuro during the period.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of this particular piece are not outlined, it contributes to Schalcken's reputation for nuanced, light-infused genre paintings, influencing subsequent generations' approaches to capturing everyday life and interior lighting in art.