A Woman Asleep by a Fire
- Artist: Quiringh van Brekelenkam
- Date: about 1648
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "A Woman Asleep by a Fire" by Quiringh van Brekelenkam. Painted in the Dutch north, about 1648, it's an oil on wood work. You'll notice the peaceful atmosphere of this scene - a woman has fallen asleep while reading her Bible, surrounded by the tidy kitchen and supper laid out on a clean linen cloth.
The artist here is showing his appreciation for diligent housekeepers like this woman, rather than using the sleeping figure as a satirical tool to highlight neglect or laziness. The focus is on her hard work and dedication. But there's a subtle nuance to be picked up - that jug over there with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden relief. It hints at the biblical notion that it was Eve who first disobeyed God, introducing sin into the world.
It's a thought-provoking piece that rewards close observation.
See it in person
A Woman Asleep by a Fire hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
