Artwork
Willem Philip Kops, with his Wife and Children

Willem Philip Kops, with his Wife and Children is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Frans Decker. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1738, this oil painting by Frans Decker serves as a formal family portrait depicting Willem Philip Kops alongside his wife and their children.
Created in 1738, this oil painting by Frans Decker serves as a formal family portrait depicting Willem Philip Kops alongside his wife and their children. The work captures the domestic unit, presenting the subjects as a collective group rather than isolated individuals. As a portrait genre piece, the composition focuses on the representation of the family members, specifically highlighting the presence of the woman and children within the household structure.
The image functions as a historical record of the Kops family, preserving their likeness and familial bonds in a single canvas.
Technique & Style
Created in 1738, this portrait by Frans Decker is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 148 cm in height and 146.5 cm in width. As a formal group portrait, the composition depicts a man, identified as Willem Philip Kops, alongside his wife and children.
The piece is classified within the genre of portraiture and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
The painting Willem Philip Kops, with his Wife and Children was created by Frans Decker in 1738, executed in oil on canvas. According to the sources, the work is presently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. No further details about its earlier ownership, commission, or provenance are provided in the available information.
Context
Willem Philip Kops, with his Wife and Children stands as a significant example of 18th-century Dutch portraiture, reflecting the era's focus on family representation within elite circles. Painted by Frans Decker in 1738, the work demonstrates technical mastery through its use of oil on canvas, achieving dimensions of 148 cm by 146.5 cm. Its creation during the Dutch Golden Age's later period highlights evolving artistic conventions in domestic genre scenes, particularly the nuanced portrayal of familial relationships. The painting's presence in the Rijksmuseum collection since inception underscores its recognized historical and artistic value within Dutch cultural heritage.
Overview
Frans Decker’s 1738 oil portrait titled Willem Philip Kops, with his Wife and Children presents a domestic group of seven figures. The central male figure sits in a black coat trimmed with red, flanked by his wife who cradles an infant. The remaining five children are positioned around the couple, two standing on either side and one seated on the floor, all rendered in formal attire.
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