Read the visual description
The image shows four figures mainly depicted from the waist up. The central figure holds a large, round-bottomed flask, looking slightly upward. To their left, another figure holds a candle on a candlestick, facing the flask. On the right, a person with short hair tied back holds another candle. Below them, another figure manipulates the base of a candle, with a dog looking up next to them. The setting is an interior with dark shading, suggesting a dim atmosphere.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
"It is good candles which light the way"
Jacob Jordaens
- Date
- 1640s
- Medium
- pen and ink with brown wash and white heightening over black and red chalk on laid paper
- Dimensions
- overall: 14.6 x 16.7 cm (5 3/4 x 6 9/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1984.3.13
- Credit line
- Julius S. Held Collection, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
- Time span
- 1601 to 1650
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Flemish
- domestic activities
- genre
Provenance
Probably Valerius Röver [1686 - 1739], Delft. Johann Goll van Franckenstein [1722 - 1785], Amsterdam, (Lugt 2987); by descent to his son, Johan Goll van Franckenstein [1750 - 1821], Amsterdam; (their sale, J° de Vries, A. Brondgeest, E. M. Engelberts et C. F. Roos, Amsterdam, 1 July 1833). Eugene Rodrigues [born 1853], Paris, (Lugt 897). (Frederick Keppel & Co., New York); Mrs. E. John Heidsieck, Tuxedo Park, NY; (her sale, Parke-Bernet, New York, 13 February 1943, lot 296); Ingrid [1905 - 1986] and Julius S. [1905 - 2002] Held, New York, (Lugt 4805); purchased by the National Gallery of Art, 1984.
Inscription
upper center in brown ink: Het Syn Goede Keersen die voor Lichten; verso, lower left in brown ink: 7/1; lower left in red ink, by J. Goll van Franckenstein [Lugt 2987]:N2732; lower center in graphite, by later hand: Jordaens; lower right in graphite, by later hand: HVO
Marks
verso, stamped in black ink: Julius S. Held collection (Lugt 4805); unidentified collector's mark [dry stamp of Rodrigues collection?]
Watermarks
indisinct fragment of a watermark, possibly a serpent
NGA object ID 62982. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.