The sculpture depicts a woman seated and nursing an infant who is wrapped in swaddling clothes. The woman wears a headscarf and a gown with a blue top and a grayish-blue skirt. The infant is positioned horizontally across her lap, with both hands cradling the baby securely. The sculpture is made from a material that has a glazed, smooth surface. The colors include a creamy tone for both the woman's skin and the baby's swaddling cloth, while the woman’s attire adds a touch of color with its blue and gray shades. The sculpture's life-like size and detail allow us to appreciate the realistic depiction of the maternal subject.

The Nurse

c. 1608

Medium: lead-glazed earthenware
Classification: Decorative Art
Period: 1601 to 1650
Image size: 8447 × 10559px

Description

The sculpture depicts a woman seated and nursing an infant who is wrapped in swaddling clothes. The woman wears a headscarf and a gown with a blue top and a grayish-blue skirt. The infant is positioned horizontally across her lap, with both hands cradling the baby securely. The sculpture is made from a material that has a glazed, smooth surface. The colors include a creamy tone for both the woman's skin and the baby's swaddling cloth, while the woman’s attire adds a touch of color with its blue and gray shades. The sculpture's life-like size and detail allow us to appreciate the realistic depiction of the maternal subject.

Rights & Source

Open access image from the National Gallery of Art, released under its open access program. Metadata via the NGA Open Data Program (CC0).

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