Artwork
Girl with a dog in her hands
Girl with a dog in her hands is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Jean-Baptiste Greuze, a French artist active in the late eighteenth century, painted Girl with a Dog in Her Hands circa 1775. Executed in oil on canvas, the work exemplifies the Rococo aesthetic prevalent at the time. It is presently part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a young, fair‑skinned girl with blonde hair, dressed in a white dress accented by a brown shawl. She cradles a small spaniel, both figures gazing upward with a tranquil expression, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation between child and pet.
Technique & Style
Greuze employs a restrained palette and soft modeling to render flesh and fur, while a darkened background isolates the figures, enhancing their luminosity. The brushwork balances delicate detail in the clothing and animal with broader tonal washes, characteristic of Rococo’s graceful elegance.
History & Provenance
Created around 1775, the painting entered the holdings of Warsaw’s National Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to acquisition by the museum is not extensively documented, but the work reflects Greuze’s mature period of genre painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French pronunciation: 21 August 1725 – 4 March 1805) was a French painter of portraits, genre scenes, and history painting.
