Pharaoh's daughter discovers Moses in the rush basket

Du Gardijn employs a muted palette of soft hues, allowing the light to diffuse gently across the scene. The subtle gradations of tone create a calm atmosphere, while the figures merge seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, reflecting a restrained approach to chiaroscuro that balances illumination and shadow.

Executed in the early seventeenth century, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings through acquisition in the museum’s early collection-building phase. Its provenance prior to the museum remains undocumented, but the work has been catalogued as a representative example of Dutch religious painting of the period.

The work reflects the continued interest of Dutch artists in biblical narratives during the post‑Reformation era, when such subjects were rendered with domestic tranquility rather than overt drama. Du Gardijn’s treatment aligns with contemporary trends that favored naturalistic settings and understated emotional expression.