Artwork
A maidservant with a basket of fruit and two lovers
A maidservant with a basket of fruit and two lovers is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Jordaens painted *A maidservant with a basket of fruit and two lovers* in 1630. Executed in oil on canvas, the work portrays a domestic interior where a young maid offers a basket of fruit while two partially concealed figures converse nearby. The composition reflects Jordaens’ interest in everyday Flemish life, rendered with the dramatic lighting typical of the Baroque period.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a maid in a white shirt and dark skirt, holds a fruit basket that may symbolize abundance or courtship. Behind her, two lovers are hinted at through a partially visible frame, suggesting a private dialogue within a public space. The juxtaposition of service and romance invites contemplation of social roles and intimate encounters in 17th‑century households.
Technique & Style
Jordaens employs chiaroscuro to model forms, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to give volume to the figures and the surrounding décor. The background features elaborate carved panels and sculptural motifs that enhance the sense of opulence. His brushwork combines the vigor of Flemish Baroque with a careful observation of texture, especially in the fruit and fabric.
History & Provenance
Created after the deaths of Rubens and van Dyck, the painting marks Jordaens’ emergence as the leading Flemish Baroque painter of his generation. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been documented in several European collections and remains a representative example of Jordaens’ genre paintings that blend narrative detail with lively composition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques (Jacob) Jordaens (19 May 1593 – 18 October 1678) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and a designer of tapestries and prints.
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The Holy Family with Saint Anne and the Young Baptist and His Parents
Untitled
Apollo as Victor over Pan
Susanna and the Elders
The Betrayal of Christ
Portrait of the artist with his family
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