MAES, Nicolaes
(b. 1634, Dordrecht, d. 1693, Amsterdam)

The Eavesdropper (detail)

1657
Oil on canvas
Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht

The company in the upstairs room at the left is waiting to be served and the lady of the house, richly clad in a fur-trimmed red velvet jacket, descends the stairs with an empty wine glass in her left hand. She smiles out at the viewer, her finger raised to her lips cautioning for silence. The viewer is directly involved in the scenario, and even made an accomplice to it.