Artwork

Unseemly Love, perhaps a scene of the Widower Joost with Lucia, 2nd scene from the play "De wanhebbelijke liefde" by CJ van der Lijn

Unseemly Love, perhaps a scene of the Widower Joost with Lucia, 2nd scene from the play "De wanhebbelijke liefde" by CJ van der Lijn is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Cornelis Troost. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

The composition centers on a well‑dressed woman seated on a chair, a kneeling man nearby, and assorted furnishings that suggest a modest, lived‑in space.

Cornelis Troost’s oil on canvas, dated around 1750, portrays a domestic interior that likely illustrates the second scene of the Dutch play “De wanhebbelijke liefde” by C.J. van der Lijn. The composition centers on a well‑dressed woman seated on a chair, a kneeling man nearby, and assorted furnishings that suggest a modest, lived‑in space. The work belongs to the Rococo period and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The scene appears to capture a moment between the widower Joost and Lucia, characters from the play, as they engage in a subtle, perhaps flirtatious exchange. The woman’s fan and the man’s hand on her knee hint at a tentative intimacy, while the surrounding objects—a clock, a book, a birdcage—may allude to the passage of time and the constraints of social propriety within the narrative.

Technique & Style

Troost employs a light, fluid palette characteristic of Rococo painting, allowing the silk‑like dress to catch the ambient illumination. The handling of chiaroscuro creates gentle contrasts that model the figures and emphasize the texture of fabrics and wood. Fine brushwork renders details such as the fan’s ribs and the reflective quality of the woman’s skin.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch Golden Age and post‑Golden Age acquisitions. Documentation links the work to the theatrical culture of the period, reflecting the popularity of stage scenes as subjects for visual artists.

Context

During the 1750s, Dutch painters often turned to contemporary literature and theater for inspiration, integrating narrative content into genre scenes. Troost, known for his theatrical subjects, frequently depicted moments from popular plays, situating his work within a broader trend of visualizing stage drama for a museum audience.