Artwork
Family Portrait
Family Portrait is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gillis van Tilborgh. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.
About this work
Overview
Gillis van Tilborgh, a Flemish painter active in the mid‑17th century, executed the oil painting *Family Portrait* in 1665. The work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age and is presently part of the Mauritshuis collection in The Hague.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a sizeable household assembled in an interior space. Men wear period hats, women are dressed in long gowns, and the group is arranged around a table covered with a white cloth. Some figures hold objects such as a book or a glass, while an easel positioned in the room hints at a connection to artistic practice.
Technique & Style
Van Tilborgh employs chiaroscuro, creating strong light‑and‑dark contrasts that model the figures and give the scene a three‑dimensional presence. The composition balances detailed costume rendering with a modestly illuminated interior, characteristic of Flemish portraiture of the era.
History & Provenance
Beyond his portrait work, van Tilborgh served as keeper of the governor of the Habsburg Netherlands’ picture collection and traveled to England for group commissions. *Family Portrait* entered the Mauritshuis collection at an unspecified date, where it remains on display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gillis van Tilborgh or Gillis van Tilborch (c. 1625 – c. 1678) was a Flemish painter who worked in various genres including portraits, 'low-life' and elegant genre paintings and paintings of picture galleries. He became…
