A Donor
- Artist: Quinten Massys
- Date: about 1520
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
"This is 'A Donor' painted in the style of Quinten Massys, an artist known for his detailed and expressive portraits. The subject's features bear a striking resemblance to another portrait by Massys, suggesting a possible familial connection. The panel itself is believed to be the left wing of a small triptych, with a landscape scene depicting a stream running through a wooded area.
A man leads an ox to drink, while a woman carries a jug on her head, possibly collecting water from the stream. In the background, you'll see a thatched house and a dovecote with birds perched on top. The track winding into the distance suggests a sense of movement and activity in the scene.
Interestingly, this painting's creation involved multiple artists working together. While one artist is thought to have made the underdrawing, others contributed to the final product, including Massys himself, who may have been responsible for the principal figure and distant landscape."
See it in person
A Donor 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.
