Artwork
The Daughter of Jairius
The Daughter of Jairius is a photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1863 by the artist known as 258_person, *The Daughter of Jairius* is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography. The oil painting presents an intimate interior scene, dominated by muted lighting and a restrained palette, which draws attention to the figures and their gestures rather than decorative detail.
Subject & Meaning
At the center of the composition a woman in a white robe kneels beside a bed where a young girl lies with closed eyes, her head resting on a pillow. The woman's gaze is lowered and her hands are pressed together, suggesting a moment of prayer, mourning, or solemn care, while two onlookers in an arched doorway observe the scene.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro to model the figures against a dimly lit room, allowing the white robe to stand out against the surrounding shadows. Soft brushwork renders the fabric and skin, while the darker background and heavy curtains create depth. The restrained color scheme and careful handling of light convey a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Since its completion in the mid‑nineteenth century, the work has remained in institutional hands, eventually entering the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography. Documentation records its acquisition by the museum, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s broader narrative on domestic and ritual scenes in art.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
