Floor plan

Time and placeThe 17th century

The 17th century

A windmill stands on a promontory cutting into a waterway under a partially stormy sky in this square landcape painting. The promontory and mill are painted in muted tones of brown and rust orange, while steel-gray and white clouds encircle a topaz-blue sky above. The promontory juts into the scene from our left, and the front of the windmill is angled to our right so its golden-tan sails catch the light. Silvery water winds around the base of the promontory and extends to a dark green, shadowy bank on the far side. A boat in the lower right corner of the composition is rowed by a man wearing a red jacket and cap. A path runs to the water’s edge from the left edge of the painting, in front of the promontory’s retaining wall, which is shored up with stones or panels. A person in dark clothing close to the windmill seems to rest their arms on the retaining wall, their back to us. Closer to us, a woman holds a child’s hand as they walk down the path to the bank. A bearded man with tattered brown clothes and bare feet stands leaning against the wall near a woman wearing burnt-orange garment. She sits or kneels at the water’s edge in front of a basket of clothes and holds up a brown cloth. The olive-green forms of the trees on the far bank are reflected in the water, and closer inspection reveals two cows near the water there. Charcoal-gray clouds pile up along the left of the painting and span the top edge. There is a brilliant blue sky beyond and a screen of white clouds near the horizon, which comes about a third of the way up the canvas.
Merrymakers at Shrovetide, by Frans Hals, ca. 1616–17
Saint Peter Repentant, by Georges de La Tour, 1645
Perseus and the Origin of Coral, by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), ca. 1671
A Genoese Lady with Her Child, by Anthony van Dyck, c. 1623–25

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Works made in the 17th century, anywhere in the world.

Section 1, north wall

  1. A windmill stands on a promontory cutting into a waterway under a partially stormy sky in this square landcape painting. The promontory and mill are painted in muted tones of brown and rust orange, while steel-gray and white clouds encircle a topaz-blue sky above. The promontory juts into the scene from our left, and the front of the windmill is angled to our right so its golden-tan sails catch the light. Silvery water winds around the base of the promontory and extends to a dark green, shadowy bank on the far side. A boat in the lower right corner of the composition is rowed by a man wearing a red jacket and cap. A path runs to the water’s edge from the left edge of the painting, in front of the promontory’s retaining wall, which is shored up with stones or panels. A person in dark clothing close to the windmill seems to rest their arms on the retaining wall, their back to us. Closer to us, a woman holds a child’s hand as they walk down the path to the bank. A bearded man with tattered brown clothes and bare feet stands leaning against the wall near a woman wearing burnt-orange garment. She sits or kneels at the water’s edge in front of a basket of clothes and holds up a brown cloth. The olive-green forms of the trees on the far bank are reflected in the water, and closer inspection reveals two cows near the water there. Charcoal-gray clouds pile up along the left of the painting and span the top edge. There is a brilliant blue sky beyond and a screen of white clouds near the horizon, which comes about a third of the way up the canvas.
    The MillRembrandt van Rijn, 1645/1648Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Merrymakers at Shrovetide, by Frans Hals, ca. 1616–17
    Merrymakers at ShrovetideFrans Hals, ca. 1616–17Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Saint Peter Repentant, by Georges de La Tour, 1645
    Saint Peter RepentantGeorges de La Tour, 1645Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. Perseus and the Origin of Coral, by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), ca. 1671
    Perseus and the Origin of CoralClaude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), ca. 1671Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A Genoese Lady with Her Child, by Anthony van Dyck, c. 1623–25
    A Genoese Lady with Her ChildAnthony van Dyck, c. 1623–25Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. Papers with Japanese text hang from a tree bearing red and gold leaves.
    Flowering Cherry and Autumn Maples with Poem SlipsTosa Mitsuoki, 1654/81Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Hanging scroll
    The palaces and gate towers of PenglaiZhu Dan, 1683Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
  3. Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf C (previous leaf 6), by Xiao Yuncong, 1668
    Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf C (previous leaf 6)Xiao Yuncong, 1668Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. A work made of woodblock print in black ink and watercolor on cream japanese paper.
    The Priest Kobo Daishi at the Tama River in Kii Province from the series The Six Tama RiversTorii Kiyomasu, c. 1725-1735Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of etching in black ink on cream laid paper.
    A Young Woman Holding a CushionMonogrammist VCP, 1643Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. A work made of pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash, over black and red chalk, heightened with white opaque watercolor, on joined sheets of laid paper, mounted to paperboard.
    Allegory of the Elevation of Cardinal Deacon Oddone Colonna to the Papal Chair as Pope Martin VBenedetto Luti, 1700Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  4. The image shows a drawing of three figures. The central figure is seated, leaning slightly forward with one arm outstretched towards the standing figures. They have short, slightly messy hair, traditional clothing, and muscular limbs. The standing figures on the right are partially obscured but appear to interact with the seated figure. One of them is extending their arm towards the seated figure. The individuals wear layered clothing, with one wearing a head covering. The background is simple, emphasizing the interaction between the figures. The drawing style is classical or historical, using ink and wash for texture and depth.
    Youth Sitting on a Wall in Conversation with Two MenSalvator Rosa, c. 1656/1657Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, north wall

  1. A work made of etching in black on cream laid paper.
    Saint Jerome and a Pope with Two Putti (Saint Jerome and Pope Damasus)Jacopo Palma il Giovane, c. 1611Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. The Annunciation (folio 15 recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602–4
    The Annunciation (folio 15 recto), from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome XavierUnrecorded Indian maker, 1602–4Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. A work made of watercolor and opaque watercolor on cream laid paper.
    Megasoma Elephas or Megaceras Jason and Six Other InsectsPieter Holsteyn, the younger, 1640/80Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  4. Drawing of god, radiating light, reaching down from clouds, touching male figure.
    The Creation of AdamGiovanni Benedetto Castiglione, c. 1645/50Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago