Who painted Family scene?

Family scene was painted by Caspar Netscher in 1650-01-01.

Where can I see Family scene?

Family scene is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Family scene?

Family scene is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Family scene?

Museum-quality prints of Family scene are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Family scene

Caspar Netscher , 1650

Family scene is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Caspar Netscher. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

While often attributed primarily to Netscher, the work's creation involves a complex attribution history that includes Nicolaas Roosendael and Gerard ter Borch.

Caspar Netscher's Family scene (1650) depicts a domestic gathering centered around a fireplace, featuring a man, a woman, a girl, and a boy accompanied by a dog. The composition functions as a portrait genre piece that captures the intimate atmosphere of a 17th-century household. While often attributed primarily to Netscher, the work's creation involves a complex attribution history that includes Nicolaas Roosendael and Gerard ter Borch.

The inclusion of the fireplace and the pet dog serves as standard iconography for domestic warmth and familial loyalty within the Dutch Golden Age tradition.

Technique & Style

The painting is an oil work executed on a wooden panel, measuring roughly 114 cm in height by 166.5 cm in width. It was created in 1650 and belongs to the portrait genre, depicting a woman, a man, a girl, a boy, a fireplace and a dog within a domestic setting. The composition balances the figures against a muted interior, employing careful brushwork and subtle chiaroscuro that characterize Caspar Netscher’s technique.

The work’s formal qualities include a restrained palette, precise rendering of textures, and a harmonious arrangement that emphasizes the intimate family narrative.

History & Provenance

Family scene is a 1650 oil painting on panel by Caspar Netscher, measuring 114 × 166.5 cm and depicting a woman, man, girl, boy, fireplace and dog. The work was created as a family portrait in the Dutch Republic during the mid‑17th century. Its early ownership is documented with Cornelis Hoogendijk, who held the painting before it entered the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum Zwolle.

Today the piece is exhibited at the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the museum’s Dutch portrait holdings.

Overview

Family scene is an oil painting by Caspar Netscher, created around 1650. This work portrays a domestic gathering, featuring six individuals and a small dog within an interior setting. The composition emphasizes the figures through its lighting, drawing the viewer's attention to their expressions and attire. It is currently part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Caspar Netscher

Caspar Netscher was a Dutch painter. He was a master in depicting oriental rugs, silk and brocade and introduced an international style to the Northern Netherlands.