Artwork

Portrait of the Brak Family, Amsterdam Mennonites

Portrait of the Brak Family, Amsterdam Mennonites, by Tibout Regters, oil, 1752
Portrait of the Brak Family, Amsterdam Mennonites, by Tibout Regters, oil, 1752

Portrait of the Brak Family, Amsterdam Mennonites is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Tibout Regters. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Tibout Regters painted this oil work in 1752, depicting a seven‑member Amsterdam Mennonite family gathered around a table. The composition is set within an interior featuring a fireplace, and the figures are presented in formal dress typical of the mid‑eighteenth century. The canvas now belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait captures a domestic scene of quiet contemplation, with the parents, their children, and a youngest child clutching a doll. The arrangement emphasizes familial unity and the social standing of the household, reflecting the values of modest prosperity and piety associated with the Mennonite community of the period.

Technique & Style

Regters employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, using contrasts of light and shadow that give the scene depth and a three‑dimensional quality. The brushwork is refined, rendering the textures of dark coats and long dresses with careful attention, while the muted palette reinforces the sober atmosphere of the interior.

History & Provenance

Created in 1752, the painting remained in private hands before entering the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Dutch 18th‑century portrait collection. Its provenance traces the lineage of the Brak family, a notable Mennonite household in Amsterdam.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Tibout Regters

Artist

Tibout Regters

Tibout Regters (1710–1768) was an artist, born in Dordrecht.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.