Fine Art Poster
From £28
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
The Serenade - Judith Leyster
Regular price
£28.00 GBP
Sale price
£28.00 GBP
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A young man plays the lute in this evocative Dutch Golden Age genre painting by Judith Leyster, characterised by dramatic lighting and expressive brushwork.
Judith Leyster, a prominent figure of the Dutch Golden Age, produced this work during the early stages of her career. The painting depicts a young man playing a lute, his gaze directed upwards as if lost in the music. Leyster employs a dramatic use of light and shadow, a technique influenced by the Caravaggisti movement, which was gaining traction in the Netherlands at the time. The subject wears a striped doublet and a large, dark hat, rendered with loose, confident brushwork that captures the texture of the fabric and the soft glow on his face.
The composition focuses on the musician, isolating him against a neutral, darkened background. This approach directs the viewer's attention to the act of performance and the emotional state of the subject. The lute, a common motif in seventeenth-century Dutch art, often carried symbolic associations with harmony or the fleeting nature of pleasure. Leyster's ability to convey a sense of immediacy and character is evident in the musician's parted lips and the relaxed posture of his hands upon the instrument.
Leyster was one of the few women admitted to the Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke, and her work was frequently misattributed to Frans Hals for centuries. Modern scholarship has restored her reputation, identifying her distinct hand through her signature and stylistic choices. This painting demonstrates her technical proficiency in handling oil paint, particularly in the subtle transitions of tone across the musician's features and the realistic depiction of the lute's wooden surface. The work remains a fine example of the genre scenes that defined the period, offering a glimpse into the domestic and musical life of the Dutch Republic.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Complete The Look
The Serenade - Judith Leyster
Regular price
From £28.00 GBP
Sale price
From £28.00 GBP
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Judith Leyster
Leyster signed her paintings with a monogram: her initials JL with a star. The pun was deliberate. Her father, a brewer and cloth maker, had named the family business Leyster, meaning lodestar, the Dutch word for the North Star. She painted under a navigational metaphor, which turned out to be appropriate: her career was guided by light, then obscured by it.
She was one of the first women admitted to the Haarlem Guild of St Luke, in 1633, at twenty-four. She ran her own workshop and trained students. When one of her apprentices left to join Frans Hals's workshop without Guild permission, she sued Hals. The case was settled: the student's mother paid four guilders in damages. Leyster had asked for eight.
Her best paintings were made in the seven years between 1629 and 1636. The Jolly Toper, Self-Portrait, The Proposition: they are warm, confident, technically assured, painted in a style close to Hals's but with a subtlety of expression that is entirely her own. The Proposition, showing a woman by lamplight being offered money by a man leaning over her shoulder, is one of the most psychologically complex genre paintings of the Dutch Golden Age.
In 1636 she married the painter Jan Miense Molenaer. After the marriage, painting gave way to children and household management. She probably contributed to her husband's workshop, but she stopped signing work in her own name. The solo career lasted seven years.
After her death in 1660 her work was systematically attributed to Hals. The misattribution lasted until 1893, when a painting that had been admired for over a century as a Hals was recognised as hers.
She was one of the first women admitted to the Haarlem Guild of St Luke, in 1633, at twenty-four. She ran her own workshop and trained students. When one of her apprentices left to join Frans Hals's workshop without Guild permission, she sued Hals. The case was settled: the student's mother paid four guilders in damages. Leyster had asked for eight.
Her best paintings were made in the seven years between 1629 and 1636. The Jolly Toper, Self-Portrait, The Proposition: they are warm, confident, technically assured, painted in a style close to Hals's but with a subtlety of expression that is entirely her own. The Proposition, showing a woman by lamplight being offered money by a man leaning over her shoulder, is one of the most psychologically complex genre paintings of the Dutch Golden Age.
In 1636 she married the painter Jan Miense Molenaer. After the marriage, painting gave way to children and household management. She probably contributed to her husband's workshop, but she stopped signing work in her own name. The solo career lasted seven years.
After her death in 1660 her work was systematically attributed to Hals. The misattribution lasted until 1893, when a painting that had been admired for over a century as a Hals was recognised as hers.
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From £45
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
Artist Biography
Judith Leyster
Leyster signed her paintings with a monogram: her initials JL with a star. The pun was deliberate. Her father, a brewer and cloth maker, had named the family business Leyster, meaning lodestar, the Dutch word for the North Star. She painted under a navigational metaphor, which turned out to be appropriate: her career was guided by light, then obscured by it.
She was one of the first women admitted to the Haarlem Guild of St Luke, in 1633, at twenty-four. She ran her own workshop and trained students. When one of her apprentices left to join Frans Hals's workshop without Guild permission, she sued Hals. The case was settled: the student's mother paid four guilders in damages. Leyster had asked for eight.
Her best paintings were made in the seven years between 1629 and 1636. The Jolly Toper, Self-Portrait, The Proposition: they are warm, confident, technically assured, painted in a style close to Hals's but with a subtlety of expression that is entirely her own. The Proposition, showing a woman by lamplight being offered money by a man leaning over her shoulder, is one of the most psychologically complex genre paintings of the Dutch Golden Age.
In 1636 she married the painter Jan Miense Molenaer. After the marriage, painting gave way to children and household management. She probably contributed to her husband's workshop, but she stopped signing work in her own name. The solo career lasted seven years.
After her death in 1660 her work was systematically attributed to Hals. The misattribution lasted until 1893, when a painting that had been admired for over a century as a Hals was recognised as hers.
She was one of the first women admitted to the Haarlem Guild of St Luke, in 1633, at twenty-four. She ran her own workshop and trained students. When one of her apprentices left to join Frans Hals's workshop without Guild permission, she sued Hals. The case was settled: the student's mother paid four guilders in damages. Leyster had asked for eight.
Her best paintings were made in the seven years between 1629 and 1636. The Jolly Toper, Self-Portrait, The Proposition: they are warm, confident, technically assured, painted in a style close to Hals's but with a subtlety of expression that is entirely her own. The Proposition, showing a woman by lamplight being offered money by a man leaning over her shoulder, is one of the most psychologically complex genre paintings of the Dutch Golden Age.
In 1636 she married the painter Jan Miense Molenaer. After the marriage, painting gave way to children and household management. She probably contributed to her husband's workshop, but she stopped signing work in her own name. The solo career lasted seven years.
After her death in 1660 her work was systematically attributed to Hals. The misattribution lasted until 1893, when a painting that had been admired for over a century as a Hals was recognised as hers.
You May Also Like