1564
oil
panel
From the collection of Norton Simon Museum
Dominant colour
Susanna and the Elders is a 1564 oil by Jan Matsys, a Early Baroque Italian work, held at Norton Simon Museum.
This painting shows a woman, Susanna, sitting on a stone bench. She is wearing a white and gold dress, and her right breast is exposed. Two men, the Elders, are standing behind her, looking at her with lustful expressions. They are wearing red robes. In the background, there is a cityscape with trees and buildings. The woman is pointing at the men, as if accusing them of something. The men are looking at her with a mix of desire and guilt. The atmosphere is tense and dramatic. The painting is done in oil paint and features chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth. The artist, Jan Matsys, was known for his use of this technique.
Jan Matsys or Jan Massijs (c.1510 – 8 October 1575) was a Flemish Renaissance painter known for his history paintings, genre scenes and landscapes.
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