Familiegroep bij een klavecimbel

About this artwork

…; collection of Matthijs Bartholomeus Wezelaar (?-1922);{Note RMA.} his son, Han Wezelaar (1901-84), Laren; from whom , fl. 18,000, to the museum, 1942

Art Historical Context

Cornelis Troost’s 1739 oil on canvas captures an intimate family gathering around a harpsichord, a scene that reflects the refined domestic life of the Dutch upper classes in the eighteenth century. Measuring roughly 94 by 82 centimeters, the painting exemplifies the period’s taste for “conversation pieces”—group portraits that celebrated music, education, and familial harmony as markers of prosperity and culture. Troost, active in Amsterdam during the final decades of the Dutch Republic, specialized in such lively yet elegant compositions. The presence of the harpsichord underscores the importance of musical accomplishment in well-to-do households, while the medium of oil on canvas allowed the artist to render rich fabrics, polished wood, and subtle expressions with lasting luminosity. Acquired by the Rijksmuseum in 1942 from the Wezelaar family collection, the work offers today’s visitors a vivid glimpse into the private world of the Dutch Enlightenment. Its careful balance of formality and warmth continues to charm audiences, illustrating how art preserved both likeness and lifestyle for future generations.

About the Artist

Cornelis Troost · 1696–1750

Comment on works: Portraits; Genre