Public domain
Portrait of Jan, Simon, and Hendrick Verstegen
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionCredit linePortrait of Jan, Simon, and Hendrick Verstegen. c. 1627 - c. 1632. Thomas de Keyser. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
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