Artwork

Family Group in a Landscape

Family Group in a Landscape, by Unknown, unspecified, 1650
Family Group in a Landscape, by Unknown, unspecified, 1650

Family Group in a Landscape is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Family Group in a Landscape, attributed to the artist known as 1985_person, dates from around 1650 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts a small gathering of eight figures situated within a wooded setting, framed by tall trees and a distant water surface that catches a gentle, filtered light.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents two adults and six children in a leisurely outdoor scene. One male figure leans on a walking stick while another plays a lute, suggesting a moment of pause during a familial excursion. The children's simple attire and relaxed postures convey a sense of intimacy and domestic tranquility within the natural environment.

Technique & Style

The painter employs a pronounced contrast between illuminated forms and the surrounding shadowed forest, a chiaroscuro effect that accentuates the figures against the darker backdrop. The handling of light creates a subtle three‑dimensionality, while the detailed rendering of period clothing and the lute reflects a careful observation of material culture.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1650, the canvas entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display. Its attribution to 1985_person is based on stylistic analysis and historical records linking the artist to similar genre scenes of the mid‑seventeenth century.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known