Artwork
The Little Milkmaid
The Little Milkmaid is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist Théodule-Armand Ribot. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is interpreted as an allegory of wholesome peasant life, reflecting contemporary ideals of social harmony and the moral value of simplicity.
The painting depicts a young girl holding a bowl of milk, a symbol of domestic virtue and maternal care in 19th-century French genre scenes. Ribot’s realistic rendering emphasizes the quiet dignity of rural labor while subtly referencing themes of nourishment and innocence. The work is interpreted as an allegory of wholesome peasant life, reflecting contemporary ideals of social harmony and the moral value of simplicity.
History & Provenance
The Little Milkmaid is an 1865 oil painting by Théodule-Armand Ribot, first recorded in his studio before entering the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work was created in France and measures 46.3 cm in height by 38.3 cm in width. It has been part of the museum's holdings since its acquisition, maintaining a continuous ownership chain from the artist to the institution.
The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under inventory number 1973.31. It has been part of the museum's exhibitions since its acquisition, including its display in the 1973 exhibition of French paintings.
The work measures 46.3 cm in height by 38.3 cm in width and was created in France in 1865.
Overview
The Little Milkmaid, painted in 1865 by French artist Théodule‑Armand Ribot, is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work portrays a young girl positioned centrally, dressed in a white gown with a dark shoulder covering and a modest cap, while a metal jug rests in her right hand.
Technique & Style
Ribot employs a clear chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the forms and give the figures a palpable sense of volume. The muted palette and careful rendering of textures, such as the sheen of the metal jug and the fur of the animals, reflect the artist’s attention to realistic detail within a modest, genre‑painting framework.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Theodule Ribot was a French realist painter and printmaker, born in 1823 at Saint-Nicolas-d'Attez and died in 1891.
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