Portrait of Jan, Simon, and Hendrick Verstegen

Thomas de Keyser, c. 1627 - c. 1632

Catholics in the Dutch Republic were only allowed to practise their faith secretly and formed a minority. The three brothers portrayed here were Catholic. The cross around the neck of the youngest child, Simon, references the Catholic faith. That he is depicted nude was probably to inspire the beholder to imitate Christ in his sobriety and simplicity. He would die shortly after the painting was completed.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4850
  • Dimensionssupport: height 121.5 cm x width 88.4 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on panel

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Portrait of Jan, Simon, and Hendrick Verstegen
    • Group Portrait of Three Brothers, named Hendrick, Johannes and Simon

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4850

  • Description

    Groepsportret van drie broers, genaamd Hendrick, Johannes en Simon. Het jongste kind zit naakt tussen zijn twee oudere broers op een stoel. Boven een gordijn van fluweel. Tegen de achterwand hangt een briefje.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    inscription, centre top on the cartellino: ‘Tres ter germani senos implevimus annos: / Henricus denos natus, eramque duos. / Joannes sequitur quinquennis: tertius hornus. / Sperni divitias vult sine veste Simon.’

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Thomas de Keyser

  • Dating

    c. 1627 - c. 1632

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on panel

  • Dimensions

    support: height 121.5 cm x width 88.4 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1987-12

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    ...; sale, London (Christie’s), 12 October 1979, no. 114;...; sale, London (Sotheby’s), 9 December 1987, no. 173, as Dirck Dircksz van Santvoort, to the museum

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

Persistent URL

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