The Scullery Maid
1738 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This oil painting on canvas depicts a young scullery maid standing beside a large wooden vat, captured in a quiet, domestic moment of labor. It is a signature work by Chardin, renowned for his elevation of mundane, everyday kitchen tasks to high art.
Did you know?
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin was highly praised in his time for his ability to find dignity and beauty in the simplest household chores, contrasting sharply with the elaborate and aristocratic themes favored by his contemporaries. This painting is celebrated for its masterful handling of light and texture, particularly in the reflective surfaces of the copper utensils and the soft, worn fabric of the maid's apron. It serves as a poignant reminder of the unseen, daily labor that sustained eighteenth-century households.
On your wall. Unlock the 4K download and keep this piece in your Vault — forever.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
The Scullery Maid
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, 1738
