A game of cards - Gerard Pietersz. van Zijl (1607 - 1665)

Oil on panel

Dimensions: 26 x 22 cm, 38 x 32 cm (framed)

THE ARTWORK

Two people, a man and a young woman, are playing cards on a quiet afternoon. A second woman, probably related, comes to help the girl. The two look exactly alike, they could be sisters. The girl in white is probably playing for her first time. The man in the background is already ready to make his next move. He holds his left arm high with two cards in his hand. He still has three cards in his right hand. Judging by the girl in white, she doesn't seem to understand much of it.

The girls' clothes look very elegant and soft. They are clearly upper class. The girl in white is wearing a pearl necklace and her hair is beautifully done with flowers. The girl in blue is wearing pearl earrings and a dot, tied up with a matching blue ribbon. The two girls are clearly in the foreground compared to their co-star. It sits in the dark and is almost invisible.

The blue dress looks soft. It's exactly damask silk. The dress still has an underlying color, a kind of red-rose. The white dress looks more like normal silk, as it is one color

THE ARTIST

Gerard Pietersz. van Zijl was a Northern Dutch painter and draftsman. He was born in 1607 in Leiden and was buried on December 19 in Amsterdam. He was known for his portraits and genre depictions. He started his career in Amsterdam around 1929. Around 1639 he moved to London and was active here until 1641. His teacher was Anthony van Dyck, sometimes he was called little van Dyck. After his death he returned to Amsterdam to continue working there. Jan Verkolje finished some of his unfinished paintings after his death.