Self-portrait with the Portrait of his Wife, Margaretha van Rees, and their Daughter Maria

The painting has shaped scholarly assessments of late Dutch portraiture by illustrating the domestic sphere of elite families. Its depiction of a father with his wife and child informed later interpretations of gender roles within portraiture. Contemporary records of its display at the Rijksmuseum contributed to the artist’s posthumous reputation as a master of group portraiture. Modern exhibitions have highlighted its compositional influence on 19th‑century genre scenes.

Adriaen van der Werff’s oil on canvas from 1700 presents a three‑generation family tableau. The painter is shown seated in a sumptuous red garment, a golden chain draped around his neck, while he displays a smaller portrait within the larger composition. The inner portrait features his wife, Margaretta van Rees, in blue, holding their daughter Maria. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Created at the turn of the 18th century, the work reflects van der Werff’s mature period, during which he received commissions from aristocratic patrons, including the Medici family. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.