Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shows the beautiful interplay of colored rectangles on the build-
ings. Our eye moves back and forth from shutter to gable to win-
dow...and then from front to back, as we notice the woman deep in
the alleyway.
Jan Steen—
The Burgher of Delft and His Daughter
(1655)
This painting is the latest major acquisition of the Rijksmuseum
and another star in its lineup. In August of 2004, they paid $15
million for it...and figured they got a
great deal. While the rest of the Steen
collection is in the next room (see below),
the curators often display this one with
Vermeer's works because it's pristine and
peaceful—more like an exquisite Vermeer
than a raucous Steen.
Steen's wel l-dressed burgher sits
on his front porch, when a poor woman
and child approach to beg, putting him
squarely between the horns of a moral
dilemma. On the one hand, we see his
rich home, well-dressed daughter, and a vase of flowers—actually
a symbol that his money came from morally suspect capitalism (the
kind that produced the folly of 1637's “tulipmania”). On the other
hand, there are his poor fellow citizens and the church steeple,
reminding him of his Christian duty. The man's daughter avoids
the confrontation. Will the burgher set the right Christian exam-
ple? The moral dilemma perplexed many nouveau-riche Dutch
Calvinists of Steen's day.
This early painting by Steen demonstrates his mastery of
several popular genres: portrait, still life (the flowers and fabrics),
cityscape, and moral instruction.
• Enter Room 11.
Jan Steen (1626-1679)
Not everyone could afford a masterpiece, but even poorer people
wanted works of art for their own homes (like a landscape from
Sears for over the sofa). Jan Steen (pronounced “yahn stain”), the
Norman Rockwell of his day, painted humorous scenes from the
lives of the lower classes. As a tavern owner, he observed society
firsthand.
Jan Steen—
The Feast of St. Nicholas
It's Christmas time, and the kids have been given their gifts. A
little girl got a doll. The mother says, “Let me see it,” but the girl
turns away playfully.
Everyone is happy except...the boy who's crying. His Christ-
