The Life of the Poor | Narodna galerija

In the first painting we see a fete with music and dancing – an inn with guests sitting at tables, card players, smokers; in the upper left corner a whore is obviously being introduced to a customer.

The second picture is a dramatic illustration of the life of the masses of the poor and disinherited who thronged the streets and city squares day after day all over Europe in the second half of the 17th century, particularly after the Thirty Years’ War. These godforsaken people roamed the streets, sick and crippled, begging for alms, fed by monks, getting into fights.

Artist Matteo Ghidoni

Year of creation circa 1680 (?)

Technique oil, canvas

Dimensions 72 x 126,5 cm

Inventory number NG S 2101, National Gallery of Slovenia, Ljubljana

Preservation: In the past the canvas was cut on all sides and lined with new canvas.
Restored: 1992, Kemal Selmanović.
Provenance: Unknown. On the relined canvas is a stamp: DOGANA / E. T. / VOLOSCA, on a label an inscription in ink: Attribuito: Cornelius von Wael / Fiamingo (!) nato 1592 Harlem, morto / anno 1662 a Genova / Lavorando in Venezia era diven / tato appassionato seguace del maestro Magniasco / Sue opere si trovano nei musei di / Roma, Genova, Berlino, Kassel / Braunschweig.–
Government of Slovenia, furnishing of Brdo Castle near Kranj; entrusted to the Narodna galerija in 1986 by the Government of Slovenia.
Exhibition: 1993, Ljubljana, No. 29.
Lit.: Zeri and Rozman 1993, pp. 106, 147, Cat. No. 29, Fig. 25; Da Caravaggio, 1998, p. 479 (text Silvia A. Colombo).