Who painted The Well-Loved Mother?

The Well-Loved Mother was painted by Jean-Baptiste Greuze in 1765.

Where can I see The Well-Loved Mother?

The Well-Loved Mother is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Well-Loved Mother?

The Well-Loved Mother is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Well-Loved Mother

Jean-Baptiste Greuze , 1765

The Well-Loved Mother is a pastel drawing by the Romanticist artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Well-Loved Mother is a 1765 drawing by French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze, executed in pastel with colored chalks and stumping on light golden-brown laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a woman's face and shoulders, turned slightly to the side, wearing a white cap and light-colored shawl. The soft colors and gentle expression evoke a sense of domesticity and sentimentality, characteristic of Greuze's work.

Technique & Style

Greuze employed pastel and colored chalks, blending colors to achieve a smooth appearance. The loose lines and soft colors, including pale pinks and warm browns, create a sketch-like effect, typical of portraiture in the period.

Context

The Well-Loved Mother reflects Greuze's focus on sentimental and domestic themes within 18th-century French art, a context in which such tender portrayals were valued.