Anthonij de Bordes and His Valet

Michael Sweerts

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of two individuals in a dimly lit room. One person on the left is seated; they are richly dressed in a gray hat and long gray coat, and they look directly toward us. They have pale skin, dark hair, and a dark mustache. They are being assisted by another person on the right who helps them take off their boots. The assistant also appears to have light skin and dark hair, and they wear simple brown clothes. They are in shadow, while the seated person’s face is brightly lit. The dark room features a table with an ornate cloth, a small dog under a chair, scattered shoes, fabric, and an archway showing a glimpse of an exterior scene with a fountain and obelisk against a twilight sky.