Who created "The Serenade"?

The Serenade was created by Frans van Mieris the Elder in ca. 1678–80.

When was "The Serenade" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1678–80.

Is "The Serenade" in the public domain?

Yes, The Serenade is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

The Serenade

Frans van Mieris the Elder

ca. 1678–80

Medium

Oil on wood

Dimensions

Arched top, 5 3/4 x 4 3/8 in. (14.6 x 11.1 cm)

Classification

Paintings

Department

European Paintings

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Bequest of Lillian S. Timken, 1959

Accession Number

60.71.3

Tags

Musical InstrumentsMusiciansMenWomen

Art Historical Context

Frans van Mieris Elder (1635–1681), a master of the Dutch Golden Age and a leading figure among the Leiden *fijnschilders* ("fine painters"), crafted *The Serenade* around 1678–80. Renowned for his jewel-like genre scenes, van Mieris specialized in intimate depictions of everyday life, often with subtle elegance and moral undertones. This tiny oil on wood panel, measuring just 5¾ × 4⅜ inches with its distinctive arched top, exemplifies the period's fascination with small-scale works that rivaled precious objects in refinement. The painting likely captures a courtship ritual—a serenade—featuri...

The Serenade

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