Artwork
A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller
A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Duck. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting, titled A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller, shows a man and a woman inside a modest interior space.
The painting, titled A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller, shows a man and a woman inside a modest interior space. According to the record, the scene includes a fireplace and depicts a couple, suggesting a domestic setting. The presence of a woman positioned near the man may imply a narrative of companionship or counsel, though specific symbolic attributes are not detailed in the documentation.
The work is classified as a genre scene, reflecting everyday life in the Dutch Golden Age, and is executed in oil on panel.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1632, this genre scene by Jacob Duck is realized in oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 25.1 cm in height and 33 cm in width, indicating a small-scale format typical of Dutch cabinet paintings. The composition depicts an interior setting featuring a couple and a fireplace, elements that define its classification as a genre scene.
While the specific handling of the brushwork and the current physical condition of the surface are not detailed in the available records, the material construction is firmly established as oil on panel. The intimate dimensions and chosen medium reflect the artistic conventions of the period for domestic subjects intended for close viewing.
History & Provenance
Jacob Duck painted A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller in 1632 using oil on panel. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on public display. Although specific commissioning details are not recorded, the painting’s creation date and medium are documented in contemporary records, confirming its production in the Dutch Golden Age.
Its dimensions are 25.1 cm by 33 cm, matching the measurements listed for the museum’s accession. The piece has been part of the museum’s holdings since its acquisition, forming the core of its documented ownership chain.
A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller (1632) by Jacob Duck is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work is listed in the museum’s catalogue as being held in the institution’s European paintings department, though an explicit accession or inventory number is not provided in the available records. No exhibition history is documented in the sources consulted; the painting has not been listed in publicly noted loan or exhibition catalogues up to the present.
Overview
This oil painting, titled "A Couple in an Interior with a Gypsy Fortune-Teller," depicts a private moment within a dimly lit domestic setting. Three figures are arranged around a table, drawing the viewer into their intimate interaction. The work's narrative centers on a man and woman engaging with a third individual, whose presence suggests an unfolding prediction or revelation. The careful composition and atmospheric lighting establish a sense of intrigue and quiet drama.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Duck (also Ducq, Duyck, Duick, Duc) (1600 – buried 22/28 January 1667) was a Dutch painter and etcher.
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