Portrait of Maria van der Meer as a Child

About this work

In this painting, a young girl sits on the ground, surrounded by a deer and a dog. She wears a yellow dress with white sleeves and a pink skirt, and her blonde hair is styled in an elaborate updo. The deer nuzzles her right hand, while the dog looks up at her with its mouth open. The girl's expression is serious, and she seems to be lost in thought. The deer and dog appear to be her companions, and they add a sense of warmth and intimacy to the scene. The painting is rendered in oil paint, with a focus on capturing the textures and colors of the subjects. The use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye into the scene. If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this work, you might want to look up Nicolaes Maes.