Student Artwork Guide
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.
In context
The poultry merchant — Gabriel Metsu
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.
Shaded: the lifetime of Gabriel Metsu (1629–1667) 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
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
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-poultry-merchant-9HTJR4-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Black #0a0504
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
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.
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 1 of them, with 4.7% 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 and museum
Born in Leiden, Netherlands
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/gabriel-metsu-the-poultry-merchant-9HTJR4-en/
Look closely
The poultry merchant — Gabriel Metsu
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"The poultry merchant" by Gabriel Metsu has a dark luminance. Luminance describes how much light the colors appear to reflect.
The dominant hue of "The poultry merchant" by Gabriel Metsu is amber to saffron. The hue is the underlying tone of the palette.
"The poultry merchant" by Gabriel Metsu shows a monochromatic color intensity.