Artwork
Self Portrait with his Wife Sanneke van Bommel and their two Children
Self Portrait with his Wife Sanneke van Bommel and their two Children is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Hendrik Spilman. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1760, this oil on canvas presents a domestic group portrait by the Dutch artist Hendrik Spilman. The work portrays the painter alongside his wife, Sanneke van Bommel, and their two daughters, arranged in a compact, intimate grouping. The composition is set against a dark, unadorned backdrop that draws the eye to the figures’ faces and gestures.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a man with white, curled hair, gazes solemnly forward, while his wife stands beside him, arm linked to their younger daughter. The older child, dressed in white, cradles a small dog, and the youngest, in a green dress, holds a doll. The arrangement emphasizes familial bonds and the roles of each member within the household.
Technique & Style
Spilman employs a chiaroscuro effect, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the faces and hands, giving them a three‑dimensional presence. The muted palette of the garments against the dark background heightens the luminosity of the skin tones, while the careful rendering of textures—fabric, fur, and hair—demonstrates the artist’s skill in oil painting.
History & Provenance
The portrait has remained in the Netherlands since its creation and is now part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Its attribution to Hendrik Spilman is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to the artist’s family in the mid‑18th century.
Context
Family group portraits were a common genre in Dutch art of the Enlightenment period, reflecting both personal pride and social status. Spilman’s work aligns with this tradition, presenting a modest yet carefully rendered domestic scene that conveys the values of familial unity and the emerging middle‑class identity of the time.
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