Artwork
Young woman at the cradle
Young woman at the cradle is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Maes. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a mother gazing tenderly at her sleeping infant within a modest cradle, an intimate domestic scene that emphasizes maternal care and domestic tranquility. The infant's presence in a bassinet underscores themes of nurture and vulnerability, while the quiet interior setting reflects 17th-century Dutch bourgeois values of family life. Maes captures a fleeting moment of maternal affection, using delicate brushwork to convey both emotional warmth and the quiet dignity of everyday domestic rituals.
Technique & Style
Classified as a genre painting, it reflects the mid-seventeenth-century Dutch tradition of refined, small-format cabinet pictures rendered in oil on canvas.
Young woman at the cradle is an oil painting executed on canvas, a combination of medium and support consistent with Nicolaes Maes's standard practice for small-scale genre scenes. The work measures 33.8 cm in height by 28.8 cm in width, an intimate format suited to its domestic subject matter depicting a woman beside a bassinet with an infant. Classified as a genre painting, it reflects the mid-seventeenth-century Dutch tradition of refined, small-format cabinet pictures rendered in oil on canvas.
No condition report is documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1650 by Nicolaes Maes, as indicated by its internal documentation.
The work entered the collection of Oscar Huldschinsky, whose ownership is recorded in the provenance chain. It was later acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it has been held since. The dimensions are 33.8 cm in height and 28.8 cm in width, consistent with the museum’s records.
Overview
Created circa 1650, Young woman at the cradle is an oil painting by Nicolaes Maes, a Dutch artist who studied with Rembrandt. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the work belongs to the genre‑scene tradition that portrays everyday life. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam.
Context
The work reflects the mid‑17th‑century Dutch interest in depicting ordinary domestic scenes with moral overtones. Such images often highlighted virtues like diligence and nurturing, aligning with contemporary cultural values that prized the orderly, pious household as a model for society.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaes Maes (January 1634 – December 1693; buried 24 December 1693) was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes, portraits, religious compositions and the occasional still life.
- The Holy Family with Angels
A Mother Giving her Child the Breast
Breakfast
A Lady and a Child with a Serving Maid
A Housewife Instructing her Maid
Pyhä perhe, kopio Rembrandtin mukaan
The Sick Child
Eine nähende Mutter mit ihrem Kind
Lacemaker
Virgin and Child with St Anne
Mother with two children
Mother Delousing her Child’s Hair