Adalbert Suchy

"Madame de Breteuil with her Son Richard"

Adalbert Suchy - a very gifted master coming from a solid middle-class background - painted this portrait of Madame de Breteuil with her son Richard in the open landscape. Lost in thoughts, she is sitting next to a tree and props her head on her left hand. Her other arm has fallen weakly into her lap, where the observer can see a probably oriental stringed instrument which is playfully touched by her son. He is leaning against his mother's leg - a pose which reminds of the representations of the Renaissance. The erotic touch of the picture is unmistakable and is only superficially concealed by the son's presence.