A Donkey

Art Historical Context

In the mid-17th century, the Dutch Golden Age, artists like Adriaen van Velde and Karel Dardin captured the natural world with remarkable sensitivity. This delicate red chalk drawing, *A Donkey*, attributed to both masters, exemplifies their shared interest in animal studies. Measuring just 6 1/8 x 4 15/16 inches, its intimate scale suggests it was a preparatory sketch from a studio album, likely used to refine techniques for larger paintings or etchings. Red chalk, favored by Dutch draftsmen for its warm tones and subtle blending, allowed van de Velde—known for his luminous landscapes and lively animal figures—and Dujardin, a specialist in pastoral scenes with Italianate influences, to convey texture and form with fluid strokes. The donkey, a humble yet expressive subject, reflects the era's fascination with everyday rural life, often symbolizing endurance and simplicity in Baroque art. Acquired through the Frits and Rita Markus Fund in 2002, this gem in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department invites visitors to appreciate the spontaneity of 17th-century genius. Up close, the animal's alert gaze and softly modeled coat reveal masterful observation, bridging the gap between sketch and masterpiece.

About the Artist

Adriaen van de Velde|Karel Dujardin · 1636–1672

Adriaen van de Velde (1636–1672) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, draftsman, and etcher renowned for his luminous pastoral landscapes and his extraordinary versatility. Born in Amsterdam, he was the son of the marine painter Willem van de Velde the Elder and brother of the marine painter Willem van de Velde the Younger. He studied under Jan Wijnants, a landscape specialist, and possibly under Phili...