Artwork
A House Burgled at Night
A House Burgled at Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
A nocturnal scene titled *A House Burgled at Night* portrays a burglary in progress. A woman in a bright yellow dress slips through a window, clutching a bundle of stolen items, while five men lie within the interior, some asleep, others startled. The composition balances tension with a quiet domestic setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes the intrusion of theft against the stillness of a household at night. The woman's bare feet on the windowsill and the scattered figures suggest vulnerability and disruption, while the calm details—such as the tiny flowers outside—hint at an underlying order amid chaos.
Technique & Style
Rendered with meticulous attention, the painting captures fine textures: the sheen of the yellow dress, the red chest, and the green‑tiled roof visible through the window. Small gestures, like a man's head resting on his arm and the precise placement of books on a table, demonstrate a careful, observational approach.
History & Provenance
The canvas is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its acquisition details are recorded by the museum, which now holds the work as part of its European painting holdings.
Context
The scene reflects genre painting traditions that depict everyday life moments with narrative depth. By focusing on a nighttime burglary, the artist explores themes of secrecy, domestic space, and the interplay between public crime and private interiors.
Artist & collection
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
The two cooks, who attempt to seduce the warrior’s loyal wife, are trapped by her in a cellar, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourth Night
The deceitful wife assaults her erring husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
The deceitful wife ejects the procuress after blackening her face, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night