1864
oil
canvas
From the collection of Clark Art Institute
Mother and Child is a 1864 oil by Hugues Merle, a Realism work, held at Clark Art Institute.
This painting depicts a tender moment between a mother and her child. The mother, seated, gently holds her child in her lap, with the child leaning against her shoulder. The mother's dark hair is pulled back, and she wears a white dress with a brown skirt, while the child is dressed in a white outfit. A potted plant with red flowers sits to the left of the pair. The scene is set in a dimly lit room, with the mother and child positioned in front of a wall. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet intimacy and warmth. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique.
Hugues Merle (1822–1881) was a French painter who mostly depicted sentimental or moral subjects. He has often been compared to William-Adolphe Bouguereau.
See the richer artist page
