A Family Group
- Artist: Michiel Nouts
- Date: about 1655
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Family Group" painted in the Dutch style around 1655. It's likely the work of Michiel Nouts, a painter who may have been familiar with working in Delft. The way the family is grouped, with clear division between male and female, is significant.
Notice how the father and son are together, turning towards each other. The father gestures to his son, suggesting that one day he'll inherit his role as head of the household. In contrast, the mother and three daughters seem more supportive, still nurturing their young. The eldest girl, however, leans away from her family, with two bright red cherries in her hand.
These costumes suggest a date in the 1650s, a time when social roles were clearly defined. The father would be responsible for providing and protecting his family, while the mother and daughters took care of domestic duties and raising children.
See it in person
A Family Group hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
