Artwork
Family Portrait
Family Portrait is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jürgen Ovens. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Family Portrait is an oil painting created by Jürgen Ovens around 1650. It is a representation of a family group, a common theme in Dutch Golden Age art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts six individuals seated together, dressed in attire characteristic of their social status. The adults wear elaborate clothing with lace and ruffles, while the children are dressed more simply. The figures' expressions are highlighted by the artist's use of light.
Technique & Style
Ovens employed chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume. This is evident in the way the faces of the subjects are illuminated against the dark background, making their expressions appear more lifelike.
History & Provenance
Jürgen Ovens, trained under Rembrandt, worked as a portrait painter and art dealer for the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp for over three decades. The painting is now part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jürgen Ovens (1623 – 9 December 1678), also known as Georg, or Jurriaen Ovens whilst in the Netherlands, was a portrait painter and art-dealer from North Frisia and, according to Arnold Houbraken, a pupil of Rembrandt.
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