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Girl at the Well

Domenicus van Tol

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Basic information
ID
Ж-873
Author
Domenicus van Tol
Name
Girl at the Well
Country
Holland
Technique
oil painting
Material
wood oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm)
37 x 28
Additionally
Type
painting
Genre
genre art
Provenance
the Lubomirski collection
Exposition
Potocki Palace
Information about author
Author
Domenicus van Tol
Artist's lifetime
1635–1676
Country
Holland
Biography
Domenicus van Tol (1635–1676) was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age. Van Tol was born in Bodegraven. The artist's works are often compared to those of his uncle, Gerard Dou. In 1674, the artist became a Leiden Guild of St. Luke member. In 1670, he married and moved to Utrecht with his family. The couple baptised their daughter in Amsterdam. The artist spent the last years of his life in Leiden, renewing his status as a guild member. In Leiden, he also concluded his earthly journey.
Object description
In front of the house, a leaning young girl is depicted in the courtyard by the well. Her illuminated face stands out against the dark background of the work. With a lighthearted gaze, she looks at the viewer. A gentle blush frames her face. Her hair is neatly arranged. The white cap harmonises with the bleached lace collar and the warm ochre colour of her blouse. The girl is scooping water from the well with a jug. On the bench, washed red tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, and turnips glisten. On the ground beside the bench are white-green asparagus shoots and parsley roots. A planter with bright red flowers is depicted on the base, set against the outlines of a tree and an open arched window in the background. The painting was probably created by Domenicus van Tol, a representative of the so-called fijnschilders (literally "fine painters") – Leiden artists who, from 1630 to 1710, sought to reproduce reality as naturally as possible in their meticulously executed, often small-scale works. In the 17th century, this term distinguished between painters and artists, but by the 19th century, it came to denote artists like Gerrit Dou and his followers in Leiden. All of them are representatives of the Dutch Baroque. Their works are characterised by attention to detail, exquisite technique, and a smooth surface without brushstrokes, bringing them closer to Dutch painters' works. The fijnschilders are best known for their genre scenes depicting everyday life, nocturnal subjects illuminated by candlelight, and "niche" paintings of trompe-l'œil (French for "deceive the eye", referring to highly realistic optical illusions).
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

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