The Doctor's Visit Gm-00092001

Frans van Mieris the Elder (Dutch, 1635–1681) In the foreground of this minutely detailed painting, a maid attempts to revive an elegant young woman who has fainted. In the background, a doctor examines a vial of the woman's urine. The dandyish doctor, whose ostentatious clothing suggests that he is a quack, was a stock figure in contemporary theater, and his inclusion here adds a touch of buffoonery. An erotic painting hangs above the fireplace, hinting that the woman suffers from lovesickness. A crying girl seen in the right background holds a burning ribbon, which was understood at the time as a symbol of pregnancy.

Frans van Mieris the Elder was well known for his finely painted works and genre pictures like this one. He often presented a theatrical and humorous view of daily life among the prosperous Dutch.