Christ among the Doctors
Medium
Pen and brush and brown ink.
Dimensions
8 7/8 x 7 in. (22.6 x 17.8 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.786
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intimate drawing *Christ among the Doctors*ca. 1652), Nicolaes Maes, a talented pupil in the School of Rembrandt vanijn, captures a pivotal biblical moment from Luke 2:41-52. Here, the young Jesus engages in profound debate with learned scholars in the temple, surrounded by gesticulating men whose intense expressions convey awe and astonishment. This small-scale work (8 7/8 x 7 in.), executed in pen and brush with brown, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age's mastery of sketches, blending narrative depth with emotional immediacy. Maes's technique reflects Rembrandt's profound influence: fl...
About the Artist
Nicolaes Maes|School of Rembrandt van Rijn · 1634–1693
Maes' genre scenes are his most well-known works although he was also a painter of religious scenes in his early career and a portraitist later in his career. Comment on works: Portraits; Interiors; History