Oh, she is luscious and slightly disheveled. Is that a very small horse or a donkey? Donkey-size, but surely that's a horse's face? He (or she) is quite sweet.
I could see that. I truthfully have always found this aspect of court life pretty hard to take. I mean, if you were poor, limited in choices and HAD to milk for a living, to see these wealthy aristocrats swishing around in silk versions of your clothes, playing at what is work to you, you might want to see a few heads roll.
Aristocratic ladies had a habit during this period of posing as milk maids, laundry maids, and shepherdesses. I wonder if the model was one of those aristos? Lovely painting. - Vic
Beautiful painting! I've never seen it before. She looks exhausted though, must have been a lot of milking that day!
ReplyDeleteOh, she is luscious and slightly disheveled. Is that a very small horse or a donkey? Donkey-size, but surely that's a horse's face? He (or she) is quite sweet.
ReplyDeleteThe persimmon color of her skirt is gorgeous. Love this painting.
ReplyDeleteThe persimmon is what drew me in instantly! She is a bit disheveled, she clearly has something to say...
ReplyDeleteDid it occur to anyone that this is no ordinary milkmaid?
ReplyDeletePerhaps she is a lady who is a 'milkmaid' at Marie Antoinette's idealized farm next to her Petit Trianon?
I could see that. I truthfully have always found this aspect of court life pretty hard to take. I mean, if you were poor, limited in choices and HAD to milk for a living, to see these wealthy aristocrats swishing around in silk versions of your clothes, playing at what is work to you, you might want to see a few heads roll.
ReplyDeleteI am linking your wonderful blog to my "So Faithful a Heart" blog http://sofaithfulaheart.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI think my readers will love it!
This milkmaid looks so beautiful and angelic I thought for a moment she had been painted by Vigee-Lebrun. Thank you for sharing such a lovely image.
ReplyDeleteI had not seen this post before. This is lovely. Who painted it and who is the model - if she is one of the "milkmaids" at PT?
ReplyDeleteAristocratic ladies had a habit during this period of posing as milk maids, laundry maids, and shepherdesses. I wonder if the model was one of those aristos? Lovely painting. - Vic
ReplyDeleteThe model is Greuze's wife.
ReplyDelete