Rijksmuseum

Portrait of Jan, Simon, and Hendrick Verstegen

Date

c. 1627 - c. 1632

Medium

panel, oil paint (paint)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

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.

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