Student Artwork Guide — The Hunter's Present

Name Class Date

Gabriel Metsu, The Hunter's Present (1660). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Gabriel Metsu originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/gabriel-metsu/
Artist’s dates: 1629 – 1667
Painted: 1660
Original size: 51 x 48 cm
Movement: Baroque Dramatic, theatrical pictures using deep shadow and strong diagonals to pull you into the action.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Gabriel Metsu died in 1667; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1737.

The Hunter's Present — Gabriel Metsu

How big is it?

The original measures 51 × 48 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

1620
1630
1640
1650
1660

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 38 at death.

Painted when the artist was 31. The artist lived to 38. 22 of the 73 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Gabriel Metsu (1629–1667) ▲ this work, 1660 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1658 Main working years: 1658–1662 Late works: from 1662

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

A Musical Party, 1659 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-a-musical-party-D2UTQE-en/
A Woman Seated at a Window, 1660 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-a-woman-seated-at-a-window-D2URL6-en/
The Apothecary (The Chemist), 1661 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-the-apothecary-the-chemist-8XZREG-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Black #1b150f

Catalogued palette

#1B150F
#BAA983
#462C15
#615236

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Black
Intensity: Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Gabriel Metsu over the last twelve months — 13 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 67.1%
2 United States of America 8.5%
3 Hong Kong 7.3%
4 Singapore 6.1%
5 Switzerland 1.2%
6 Germany 1.2%
7 France 1.2%
8 Honduras 1.2%
9 Israel 1.2%
10 Italy 1.2%
· 3 other countries 3.8%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 20 most looked-at works by Gabriel Metsu

1 The poultry merchant 4.7%
2 A Woman Seated at a Window, 1660 3.5%
3 Woman Peeling an Apple, 1655 3.5%
4 Old Woman Meditating, 1662 3.5%
5 The Tête à Tête A Lady Playing a Lute, and a Cavalier, 1665 3.5%
6 The Letter Writer Surprised, 1660 3.5%
7 The Intruder, 1661 3.5%
8 UN MILITAIRE RECEVANT UNE JEUNE DAME 3.5%
9 Portrait of Jan Jacobsz. Hinlopen and His Family, 1675 2.4%
10 The Hunter's Present, 1660 this painting 2.4%
11 Lady Seated in a Window, 1661 2.4%
12 Tavern Scene, 1655 2.4%
13 The Poultry Woman, 1662 2.4%
14 A Young Woman seated drawing, 1655 2.4%
15 LE MARCHE AUX HERBES D'AMSTERDAM 2.4%
16 The weary sportsman 2.4%
17 A Woman Cleaning Fish 2.4%
18 Seated Cavalier with Glass 2.4%
19 A Musical Party, 1659 1.2%
20 The Intruder, 1660 1.2%

Together these works take 55.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 145 works by this artist, of which 58 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 10 of them, with 2.4% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Gabriel Metsu

Born in Leiden, Netherlands

a life of artistic exploration

gabriël metsu, a dutch painter from the netherlands, lived a life marked by artistic exploration and innovation. born in 1629, metsu's work embodied the spirit of the dutch golden age, a period renowned for its prolific artistic output. this biography delves into the life and works of this enigmatic figure, whose contributions to the art world continue to fascinate.

early life and influences

metsu was born in 1629, the son of jacques metsu, a tapestry worker and painter originally from hainault. this eclectic background likely influenced gabriel's early interest in diverse artistic techniques. the family's move to leiden, where metsu grew up, exposed him to various cultural influences.

artistic career

metsu's career was marked by an adherence to no single style or technique, earning him the title of "a highly eclectic artist." his work spanned history paintings, still lifes, portraits, and genre works. notably, only 14 of his 133 works are dated, leaving much to be discovered about his creative process.

rembrandt van rijn's influence on metsu's early work is evident, particularly in his use of light and color.

metsu's move to amsterdam in 1655 marked a significant shift in his style, with more emphasis on domestic interiors and genre scenes.

his training of michiel van musscher and joost van geel reflects his commitment to the artistic community.

notable works and legacy

metsu's paintings often featured young women, market scenes, and old people, drawing from popular emblems. a notable example is the poultry seller, which showcases his use of symbolism. key works:

the sick child (c. 1664), reflecting metsu's admiration for vermeer's work.

portrait of the family hinlopen, a masterpiece that blends genre and portrait painting.

museums and collections

metsu's works can be found in various museums, including the rijksmuseum in amsterdam. for more information on his art and to explore other dutch golden age painters, visit /en/art/show/art-d3c627-en/ for a comprehensive overview. *conclusion:* gabriel metsu's life and art are a testament to the innovative spirit of the dutch golden age. his eclectic style, though sometimes enigmatic, has left an indelible mark on the world of art. as we continue to uncover more about his life and works, we are reminded of the profound impact he had on the development of western art.

for a deeper understanding of the dutch golden age, refer to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dutch_golden_age_painting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dutch_golden_age_painting).

explore more of metsu's works and those of his contemporaries at [https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/gabriel-metsu](https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/gabriel-metsu).

references:

the house of orange-nassau historic collection trust (the hague, netherlands), [https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/a@d3ccx5](https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/a@d3ccx5).

van gogh museum (netherlands) - a haven for art lovers, [https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/a@d3c8x3](https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/a@d3c8x3).

dutch golden age painting, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dutch_golden_age_painting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dutch_golden_age_painting).

Where to read more

The artist Gabriel Metsu originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/gabriel-metsu/
Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for The Hunter's Present

originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Metsu, Gabriel. The Hunter's Present. 1660, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/
APA: Metsu, Gabriel (1660). The Hunter's Present [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/
Chicago: Gabriel Metsu. The Hunter's Present. 1660. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/
Harvard: Metsu, Gabriel (1660) The Hunter's Present. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/gabriel-metsu-the-hunter-s-present-8LHUW8-en/

The Hunter's Present — Gabriel Metsu

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Our catalogue files this work under: couple, hunting. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
Look back at A Musical Party (1659), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Baroque: Dramatic, theatrical pictures using deep shadow and strong diagonals to pull you into the action. Where can you see that in this work?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

What underlying hue runs through "The Hunter's Present" by Gabriel Metsu?

A golden yellow range hue runs through "The Hunter's Present" by Gabriel Metsu.

How strong are the colors of "The Hunter's Present"?

The color of "The Hunter's Present" is subtle color in saturation and monochromatic in intensity.

Is "The Hunter's Present" available as a fine art print?

A print of "The Hunter's Present" by Gabriel Metsu can be ordered directly on its Fine Art Print page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.