Bathsheba
1668
oil
From the collection of Norton Simon Museum
1668
oil
From the collection of Norton Simon Museum
This painting depicts a woman, presumably Bathsheba, seated on a bed with her elbow resting on a table covered with a patterned rug. She wears a long dress and gazes to her right. A woman in a dark robe stands to her left, handing her a letter. A small dog is seen near the first woman's feet. The room's interior features a window with a view of a building and trees, while red drapes hang above the bed. The scene is set in a domestic environment, with the woman on the bed appearing to be in a moment of contemplation or surprise upon receiving the letter. The presence of the dog and the other woman adds a sense of everyday life to the scene. To learn more about the artist behind this work, look up Jan Steen.
