The favorite nanny (La balia favorita)

Art Historical Context

**The Favorite Nanny (Laia favorita)** This charming etching, measuring 10¼ × 8¼ inches, captures a tender moment between a woman—likely a devoted nanny—and an infant, accompanied by a bird, ev warmth and everyday affection. Attributed to both Anthony vanck, the eminent Flemish Baroque portraitist known for his elegant depictions of nobility and children, and Giuseppe Maria Cres, a Bolognese artist active from 1685 to 1747, it represents a reproductive print. Crespi, a master of dramatic lighting and emotional depth in the late Baroque transitioning to Rococo, likely adapted van Dyck's original composition, a common practice to honor and circulate admired works. Etching, the medium here, involves coating a metal plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching designs into it, and immersing in acid to etch lines of varying depth for rich tonal effects. This technique democratized art in the 17th and 18th centuries, allowing prints like this one to reach wider audiences beyond oil paintings. Acquired in 1917 through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it highlights the era's fascination with domestic scenes, blending van Dyck's refined grace with Crespi's Italian sensibility. Such works offer insight into 18th-century views of childhood and caregiving, where birds often symbolized innocence or playfulness, making this a delightful window into Baroque print culture.

About the Artist

Anthony van Dyck|Giuseppe Maria Crespi · 1599–1641

Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist who revolutionized portrait painting and became the most influential court painter in 17th-century England. Born in Antwerp as the seventh of twelve children to a prosperous silk merchant, van Dyck displayed extraordinary artistic talent from childhood. He trained under Hendrick van Balen before joining Peter Paul Rubens's workshop as a...