Artist: Nicolaes Maes
Title: The Lacemaker
Date: around 1656-57
Nationality: Dutch
Pillow: domed, flat back, sloping towards lacemaker, on lacemaker's lap.
Bobbins: with bulbs on end, on pillow, not that many (some may be hidden by her hand)
Comments: You can see scissors hanging down from a string near the bottom of her apron. If you have a pillow on your knee, if you are sitting on a highish chair, there is the risk that your lap may slope away from you and so the bobbins not hang right. The Dutch pillow has good slopes to prevent this, but the pillow seems to be quite flat. The lacemaker may have her feet on something (such as a very low stool) to get the angle of the pillow right.
Nicolaes Maes painted several other lacemakers.
© Jo Edkins 2017 - return to lace index