Girl Minstrel
Artist
Gustave Jean Jacquet
(French, 1846 - 1909)
Date1881
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions57 x 31 1/4 in. (144.8 x 79.4 cm)
Overall, Frame: 67 x 41 in. (170.2 x 104.1 cm)
Overall, Frame: 67 x 41 in. (170.2 x 104.1 cm)
ClassificationsEuropean art
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number71.2060
Terms
- Girl
- Musicians
- Musical Instruments
Collections
On View
On viewLabel TextGustave Jean Jacquet French, 1846–1909 Girl Minstrel, 1881 Oil on canvas This dewy, wide-eyed girl steps out of the hazy background as if emerging from a dream. A disciple of William Bouguereau, Gustave Jean Jacquet perfected the tight, enameled brush technique seen here. The painting captures the predicament of a young waif who must fend for herself in a harsh world. Dressed in rags and rough homespun, she holds a hurdy-gurdy, a musical instrument long associated with gypsies and the lower classes. Although seemingly innocent, Jacquet’s sentimental subject is a pretext for presenting a suggestive image of a vulnerable young girl in need of rescue. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.2060
