The Woman Drawing Water at the Cistern

Because The Woman Drawing Water at the Cistern and The Washerwoman (to the left) had been owned by a single family throughout most of their history, they are remarkably well preserved. Unlike many paintings of their age (nearly 300 years old), the canvases have never been relined—a process in which the painting is carefully transferred to a new canvas—and are still on their original stretchers. As a result, their paint surfaces are essentially untouched and maintain their vibrant brushstrokes and stunning color harmonies.

Though not original to the paintings, the French Louis XV carved oak and gilded frames from the early 1700s make a handsome and appropriate match for the canvases.