Who painted A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus?

A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus was painted by Pieter van der Werff in 1715.

Where can I see A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus?

A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus?

A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus

Pieter van der Werff , 1715

A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pieter van der Werff. It dates from 1715 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Pieter van der Werff’s 1715 oil painting, titled *A Girl Drawing and a Boy near a Statue of Venus*, is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. Executed in the late Dutch Golden Age, the work reflects the Rococo taste for intimate, genre‑like scenes that blend everyday activity with classical references.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a young woman in a pink gown bent over a table, absorbed in sketching with a pencil, while a boy in a plain shirt peers over her shoulder, holding a spherical object. Behind them stands a marble statue of a nude Venus partially covered by a cloth, linking the domestic study of art to mythological inspiration.

Technique & Style

Van der Werff employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing the dimly lit interior to frame the three figures in sharp relief. The soft modeling of flesh and the delicate rendering of the pink dress contrast with the darker background, creating a subtle three‑dimensionality characteristic of Rococo’s graceful elegance.

History & Provenance

Painted toward the end of van der Werff’s career, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch Golden Age collection. The museum’s acquisition records indicate the work has remained in public ownership since the early 20th century, ensuring its preservation and scholarly access.

Context

During the early 18th century, Dutch artists increasingly incorporated French Rococo influences, favoring lighthearted subjects and refined interiors. Van der Werff’s choice to juxtapose a contemporary drawing lesson with a classical statue reflects contemporary interests in education, artistic practice, and the revival of antiquity within a domestic setting.