Artwork

Self-portrait with the Portrait of his Wife, Margaretha van Rees, and their Daughter Maria

Self-portrait with the Portrait of his Wife, Margaretha van Rees, and their Daughter Maria is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van der Werff. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

The inner portrait features his wife, Margaretta van Rees, in blue, holding their daughter Maria.

Adriaen van der Werff’s oil on canvas from 1700 presents a three‑generation family tableau. The painter is shown seated in a sumptuous red garment, a golden chain draped around his neck, while he displays a smaller portrait within the larger composition. The inner portrait features his wife, Margaretta van Rees, in blue, holding their daughter Maria. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting functions as both a self‑portrait and a commemorative group image. By holding the miniature portrait of his wife and child, van der Werff emphasizes his role as husband and father, while also asserting his status as an artist capable of rendering intimate domestic affection alongside his own likeness.

Technique & Style

Van der Werff employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, with deep shadows receding behind the figures and a focused light that accentuates the red robe, gold chain, and the delicate skin tones of the three subjects. The meticulous rendering of fabrics and the smooth, almost polished surface are characteristic of his late‑Baroque Dutch style.

History & Provenance

Created at the turn of the 18th century, the work reflects van der Werff’s mature period, during which he received commissions from aristocratic patrons, including the Medici family. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.