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The 17th century

Works made in the 17th century, anywhere in the world.

266 works · hang 1077 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. The image shows a landscape with figures near a body of water. There are buildings made of logs, people gathered near a structure, and trees in the background. The style is detailed with precise linework, shading, and hatching. The color palette is monochrome, emphasizing light and shadow.
    Boat at a River Bank with Three GoatsAllart van Everdingen, probably c. 1645/1656Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Portrait of Gerard de Lairesse, by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1665–67
    Portrait of Gerard de LairesseRembrandt van Rijn, 1665–67Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist, by Jacob Duck, mid-1600s
    Salome with the Head of Saint John the BaptistJacob Duck, mid-1600sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  4. A light-skinned man wearing a voluminous, ocean-blue, hooded robe sits at a cloth-draped writing table and looks up, fingers splayed over an open book and a pen held in his other hand, in this vertical painting. The man and desk take up most of the composition, which has an arched top. The man’s shoulders and body are angled to our right, and he looks off in that direction in profile. His balding head is rimmed with white hair curving over the large ear we can see, and he has a trimmed white and gray beard and mustache. His prominent nose is pointed, and his lips are closed. Light glints off the robe he wears so it shimmers in shades of topaz, aquamarine, and midnight blue. Voluminous white sleeves emerge under the mantle and are edged with narrow lace cuffs. His left hand, to our right, rests on an open book, which is propped against one or two other tomes. Near the edge of the table, two quills stand in the corners of a lidded inkwell, and a round, silver blotter, shaped like an upside-down chalice, and a lidded silver box sit nearby. The man’s chair has a tall post next to his shoulder to our left with a teardrop-shaped, gold finial. A second post, near his wrist, is lower and topped with a gold orb. The chair is draped in the same deep, raspberry-pink of the square table at which he sits. The tablecloth is edged with a wide band of gold along the bottom, and filigree-like gold decorations line the seams or folds at the corners. Brushstrokes are visible in many areas, especially in the colorfully charged blue and pink fabric. Beyond the man, to our right, a statuette of a person wearing a long, white robe over a white dress holds a baby. The clothing is edged with gold, and she wears a sphere-like gold crown. The baby also wears white and holds up one hand. The statuette stands on a platform supported by S-shaped corbels, and could have a projecting, squared awning over the top. This area is more loosely painted so some details are difficult to make out. In the background to our left, a wooden door stands open next to a dark space just behind the man’s head, so his profile is picked out against the shadow. The floor beneath is earth brown.
    Saint IldefonsoEl Greco, c. 1603/1614Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 1, south wall

  1. Screen (six-panel)
    Blossoming Plum and Camellia in a Garden LandscapeKano Koi, 1615-1868Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
  2. A work made of ink on paper.
    Akbar Offering Timur's Crown to Shah JahanIslamic, Mughal period (1526–1857), ca. 1650–1700Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Merrymakers at Shrovetide, by Frans Hals, ca. 1616–17
    Merrymakers at ShrovetideFrans Hals, ca. 1616–17Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. Xu You and Chao Fu, by Okumura Masanobu, 18th century
    Xu You and Chao FuOkumura Masanobu, 18th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A work made of pen and brown ink, with touches of brush and brown ink wash, on cream laid paper.
    Woman Seated on Bench and Three Sketches of HeadsSchool of Rembrandt van Rijn, n.d.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Album of Landscapes: Leaf 4, by Wang Gai, 1677
    Album of Landscapes: Leaf 4Wang Gai, 1677Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  4. The image shows a wide aerial view of a public gathering. Buildings line the horizon overlooking the scene below. The detailed illustration features various individuals and animals in motion, including groups of people, horse riders, and carts. The monochromatic color palette contributes to a classic aesthetic.
    Piazza Presso alla Porta al PratoEdouard Eckman, 1621Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, north wall

  1. The image shows a formal garden or park with a symmetrical view. It is taken from a slightly elevated position, revealing the vast space beyond a foreground of foliage and low-growing plants. The horizon line is positioned near the midpoint, where a tree-lined pathway extends into the distance. Flanking the pathway are two statues on pedestals under leafy trees. The scene is detailed with intricate line work emphasizing textures and forms. The color palette is monochromatic in various shades of brown, creating a classic appearance. Paved steps and a bridge over a small body of water add to the ordered elegance of the garden.
    The Two StatuesAbraham Genoels IICourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image depicts a woman seated with a child in her lap. The woman looks down at the child, who has curly hair. Both figures are intricately drawn in a detailed line drawing style. The woman wears a headdress and flowing garment, holding a cross-topped staff. The child clutches her arm. Surrounding them are cloud-like forms and cherubic figures with wings, some holding rosary beads. In the background, more clouds and angelic faces are sketched.
    The Madonna of the RosaryVicente Salvador Gómez, 1674Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. This is a drawing of a mythological or allegorical scene. The scene features various figures of different ages engaged in activities around a central structure resembling an ornate draped curtain held up by columns. There is a celestial element shining down from the top, and an emblem or coat of arms held by winged figures at the very top. The figures are dressed in flowing robes and interact with each other and objects such as a globe and a staff. The composition is rich with symbolism, typical of artwork focused on narrative depth and storytelling.
    Title Page for G. de St. Vincent, Opus Geometricum Quadraturae CirculiCornelis Galle II, 1647Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, north wall

  1. Clearing after Rain over Streams and Mountains, by Wang Hui, dated 1662
    Clearing after Rain over Streams and MountainsWang Hui, dated 1662Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Dissolute Household, by Jan Steen, ca. 1663–64
    The Dissolute HouseholdJan Steen, ca. 1663–64Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art