La Nourrice (The wet nurse)

Unlike, La bonne nouvelle, the present painting does not appear to have been replicated by Gérard. While the theme of nursing recurs in Gérard's oeuvre, see for example La Mère Nourrice of 1804 (op. cit., no. 72), the inclusion of a companion to the woman nursing is unique. It is the singular nature of this composition that leads Sarah Wells-Robertson to conclude that this is the painting that was exhibited as, Une jeune femme allaitant son enfant, no. 113 at the Salon of 1802.

Robertson points out that the title, La nourrice, incites some questions about the iconography of this picture. It seems to imply that the child is being nursed by a servant whereas Robertson notes that "one would expect the exemplary Gérardian woman to nurse her child herself according to the tenants of Rousseau" (op. cit.). This treatment of the subject did not go unnoticed by contemporary critics, one of whom used it as inspiration for a poem, Une mère de famille voyant allaiter son enfant par une nourrice. Gérard introduces another surprising innovation into this sweet scene, she boldly displays the breast of the nursing figure. It is in these thematic subtleties that Gérard shows herself to be an astute social commentator, continually exploring issues pertinent to women at the time.