The Merry Family - Jan Steen (c. 1668)

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19" x 15" Artwork on Scratch-Resistant True-Matte Archival Canvas. Our true-matte canvas is a well-textured 19 mil bright white, consistent poly-cotton blend with a real matte look and feel. Utilizing newer giclée technology, this is one of the first scratch-resistant matte canvases available. With an eye-popping color gamut and dmax, coupled with critical archival certification and the ability to apply a laminate hassle-free, it sets a new standard of exceptionalism in fine art. Internally, we refer to this masterful blend of artistry and engineering as "the game changer" that will capture every nuance in your images.

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The entire family is in high spirits, creating a ruckus: father, mother, and grandmother sing loudly, the children join in, and they even puff on long pipes. The note on the mantelpiece hints that there is a lesson to be learned from this painting: ‘As the old sing, so shall the young twitter.’ What is to become of the children if their parents set the wrong example?

Jan Steen is considered one of the most humorous artists of the Dutch Golden Age. Daily life was his main pictorial theme, and his works are known for their psychological insight, sense of humor and abundance of color. Many of the genre scenes he portrayed are lively to the point of chaos, intoxication, and lustfulness. These scenes are often full of obscene references.

While Steen’s paintings are entertaining, they often also contain a wise lesson. Subtle hints in his paintings seem to suggest that Steen meant to warn the viewer rather than to invite him to copy this behavior. Steen portrayed human folly and its consequences. The boisterous family gathering in “The Merry Family” is a warning to never to let it get this far.

Jan Steen also poked fun at himself. His works followed the theme "every painter paints himself," depicting lively scenes reminiscent of his own home. He used members of his family as models, and he included himself in questionable roles. In “The Merry Family,” he portrayed himself playing the bagpipe, the instrument of fools.

Many of Steen's paintings bear references to old Dutch proverbs or literature. His cheerful paintings of disorderly families gave rise to the Dutch proverb, “a Jan Steen household” (een huishouden van Jan Steen).

Original painting is on display at Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.