The Master of the Household: Images of Women in Seventeenth-Century Dutch Art

Lafontaine, Patricia (2000) The Master of the Household: Images of Women in Seventeenth-Century Dutch Art. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis examines the representations of domestic virtue in seventeenth-century Dutch genre paintings. Dutch society laid great stress on the importance of family life and home, thus facilitating the woman to assume the role of protagonist in the genre paintings that emerged during this period. These paintings carried cultural implications allowing the viewer to see that the woman attained a powerful role within Dutch society. The thesis has been divided into four chapters: the first will discuss the position of the woman within the home; the second examines her role with children, the third will explore the representation of women in disorderly conduct and the fourth will demonstrate the woman's role in market scenes. It is evident throughout these chapters that the woman's role within this patriarchal society lied in the hearth. This was a very influential role for the woman as she was the master of the household. Catalogue entries will follow the core text, supplemented by illustrated works of art. A list of all the illustrations, a glossary, and a bibliography are provided.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: Frances Thomas
• Keywords: Art history
• Date of Award: 2000
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2000-76067
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 16:52
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 16:52
• URI: http://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/76067