Artwork

Portrait of a Married Couple with Child, Members of the Beresteyn Family

Portrait of a Married Couple with Child, Members of the Beresteyn Family is an oil painting. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work presents a three‑person family group positioned within an open landscape.

About this work

Overview

The work presents a three‑person family group positioned within an open landscape. The adult male is attired in a dark hat and coat, while the female figure wears a long, dark gown accented by a white collar. A young child stands beside them, dressed in white and holding a lantern, all set against a sky mottled with clouds and distant hills.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays a married couple and their child, likely members of the Beresteyn lineage, in a tranquil outdoor setting. The formal dress and serene pose suggest a celebration of familial unity and social standing, while the lantern held by the child may symbolize guidance or continuity within the household.

Technique & Style

The painter employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, creating a contrast between illuminated faces and the darker garments. Impasto application adds tactile surface texture, particularly in the clothing folds and foliage, enhancing the sense of depth. The overall palette is restrained, dominated by muted earth tones that reinforce the calm atmosphere.

Context

Set within the Dutch tradition of family portraiture, the piece reflects 17th‑century conventions that combined individual likenesses with a modest natural backdrop. Such works often served both commemorative and status‑affirming purposes, situating the sitters within an idealized, harmonious environment that aligns with contemporary notions of domestic virtue.

Artist & collection

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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