Two studies of a milk-seller at a house door

Nicolaes Maes (attributed to) 1634 - 1693

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of two drawings by Nicolaes Maes. The top drawing shows a milk-seller wearing a wide-brimmed hat, collecting some money from a person who is standing in front of their front door. The doorway, a fence and some trees are loosely sketched. A dog is standing next to the milk-seller, and a jug of milk is on the ground. The bottom drawing shows a very similar scene, but the dog is missing and there are darker areas of shading around a tree. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "11, 12. NICOLAAS MAES (b. 1632; d. 1693) TWO STUDIES OF A MILK-SELLER AT A HOUSE DOOR Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Red chalk and pen and sepia and wash. (11) 17 x 15 cm. (6 11/16 x 5 7/8 in.). (12) 15.2 x 18.6 cm. (5 15/16 x 7 5/16 in.). Characteristic studies related to two pictures of a Milk-seller, one in the collection of Lord Rothschild, the other in that of the Duke of Wellington, at Apsley House (H. de G. 31 and 32). They belong to the earlier part of Maes's activity when the influence of Rembrandt is paramount. Other drawings in this style, with rounded forms and glove-like hands, are often found attributed to Rembrandt. The first comprehensive attempt to group them systematically has been made in the book by Dr. Valentiner cited below. A. M. H. [Wilhelm R. Valentiner, Nicolaes Maes, Berlin and Leipzig, 1924, Abb. 66 and 67.]"