Pocket Guide -> Media -> Oil on copper -> A Lady with a Parrot and a Gentleman with a Monkey
A Lady with a Parrot and a Gentleman with a Monkey
by Caspar Netscher · Dutch, 1639 - 84
| Creation Date: | 1664 |
| Media & Support: | Oil on copper |
| Dimensions: | 13 13/16 x 11 1/8 inches |
| Credit: | Museum Purchase, Derby Fund |
This work was painted after the founding of Dutch Protestantism, when subtle moral tales became typical of Dutch painting. It was probably intended for a private home. Within the delightful world of fine detail and delicate color, there is the sly warning that life’s amusements may be filled with hidden dangers, a cautionary tale using symbols easily read by Dutch viewers. The woman feeds oysters, believed to be an aphrodisiac, to the bird. Her low-cut dress and feather indicate love of pleasure. The open cage represents the woman’s lost virtue; the nuts, worthless appetites; the monkey, man’s depravity or lust.
