Young Girl with a Pitcher, late 18th century after Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1725–1805

Oil on oval canvas French school late 18th century. In a vertical oval-shaped painting, the only character represented is a young girl in a low-cut white dress with balloon sleeves, holding an armful of roses in one side of her apron, wearing a ribbon with three flowers and a rose on her bodice. She carries the broken pitcher, the subject of the painting, on her right arm, on her left is the fountain where the young girl must have drawn water. She has the face of a lion's head with a masculine face through which the water flows. But on closer inspection, the young girl is not so innocent. Her candor is a little exaggerated, her scarf is disturbed, almost revealing a breast, the roses she holds in her hands are a little faded and gathered at the level of her hips, while her gaze is hesitant. The fountain may be a male image. We can imagine that this broken jug symbolizes his lost virginity. Dimensions: with frame, height 60 cm width 52 cm Without frame height 46 cm width 38 cm The frame bears a stamp, JB