Man Writing a Letter

Circa 1665, Gabriel Metsu painted this intimate scene around 1664-1666, at the height of his career. A young man in a black silk suit sits before an open window, writing a letter with a quill pen. A Persian rug and silver writing set indicate wealth. A globe in the corner suggests he might be a merchant or scholar.

The painting has a companion piece: Woman Reading a Letter, showing a woman receiving what might be his correspondence. Together they're considered Metsu's finest works and among the greatest Dutch genre paintings of the 17th century. The influence of Johannes Vermeer is clear in the quiet domestic setting and soft light.

The pair passed through prominent Dutch collections for centuries. In 1974 and again in 1986, both paintings were stolen from Russborough House in Ireland. They were eventually recovered. In 1987, Sir Alfred Beit donated the pair to the National Gallery of Ireland, where they remain among the collection's treasures.