The Nursemaids

In this painting, Jean-Baptiste Greuze presents two nursemaids with the six small children under their care. Greuze treated the scene with humor, creating amusing details like the cat in the cradle. However, he may have intended the painting as a social critique. In the 1700s, wealthy Parisians often sent their children to the countryside to be raised by lower-class women. This trend had come into question in the years prior to the French Revolution (1789-1799) as some philosophers believed it produced morally corrupt citizens. Greuze might be referencing this outcome by showing the poor behavior of the two boys interacting with animals.

Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust