Rijksmuseum

Thomas Hees and his Servant Thomas and Nephews Jan and Andries Hees

Date

1687

Medium

canvas, oil paint (paint)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

Thomas Hees worked as a diplomat in Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli (shown on the map in the book). There, he negotiated the release of Dutch sailors who had been conscripted as slaves. At the same time, he bought the African young man standing behind him, Thomas. He is 17, shoeless, and has an iron band around his neck: a reference to slavery and ownership.

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