Man Writing a Letter and Woman Reading a Letter, two oil paintings on panel made by Dutch artist Gabriël Metsu in the 1660s. The former shows a young man sitting in front of an open window, writing a letter with a quill pen, while the latter depicts a woman reading a letter, which the work's symbolism suggests is a romantic one. These paintings are generally considered companion pieces, with the man writing the letter that the woman is reading. They have been held—and twice stolen—as a pair since at least the early 18th century, when the works were owned by collector Hendrick Sorgh of Amsterdam. They were donated to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1987.Painting: Gabriël Metsu