@kunsthistorischesmuseumvienna

class="content__text" #Lovesick? All around us everybody is talking about the upcoming Valentine’s Day. 💖 Shops are full of pastel-colored gifts and beaming hearts. And we also just announced a tour dedicated to Cupid for next Tuesday. But for sure not everyone is in Valentine’s mood. 💔 So, for this week’s interior scene we chose an artwork dedicated to the topic of #lovesickness. This theme can actually be found frequently in Dutch literature and painting of the 17th century. It was usually presented in an ironic manner. ‘The Doctor’s Visit (Lovesick)’ is the title of this painting by Frans van Mieris. And it comes with a surprise: In this scene, the artist painted his newly wed wife. 👰 She was the model for the young lady who is visibly suffering. The doctor is taking her pulse and underscoring his diagnostic with a significant gesture: The young lady is lovesick. 🗝 The key to understanding the painting in its full dimension is the motto“amans amanti medicus” (“only love heals lovers”) and the fact that the artist’s marriage took place in 1657 - the same year he created this artwork. 😉 Mieris’ works were sold during his lifetime at remarkably high prices. Even for wealthy buyers as Archduke Leopold Wilhelm they weren’t easily affordable. 🎨 Together with his teacher, Gerrit Dou (also known as Gerard Dou), Mieris was famous for the so­-called “fine paintings” created in Leiden. The characteristic features of these genre scenes were their small format, great detail and the fact that they were sometimes painted on gilt copper - like today’s painting. The collection of #KunsthistorischesMuseum #Vienna also comprises masterpieces by Gerrit Dou. We will have a look at one of them at the end of this interior series, when we will already be close to springtime and blossoms… 🌷 Who can guess the painting? Stay tuned during the next weeks for more inspiring #interior scenes! Frans van Mieris the Elder (1635 - 1681 Leiden), The Doctor’s Visit (Lovesick), 1657

February 10, 2023