Lot 2059 Dα

The Delft painter Anthonie Palamedesz portrays four children from a wealthy Dutch family against a landscape background. They are gathered around a billy goat, and the youngest child even sits on the animal's back. In the 17th century, animals were popular playmates for children and often appeared in portraits. At the same time, the tame animals can also be interpreted as an indication of the childrens' good upbringing. The richly crafted clothing made of precious fabrics is decorated with a variety of bows. The eldest child, who wields a whip in his raised hand, also wears a beret adorned with feathers.

Stylistically, our portrait is very close to a family portrait in the Boymans van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam (inv. no. 1651), dated 1665, which shows a mother with her seven children. A very similar billy goat can also be found in the portrait of a boy by Anthonie Palamedesz in the Institute of Arts in Flint, Michigan (inv. no. 2022).

In addition to portraits, Anthonie Palamedesz primarily created genre paintings, especially interiors with “merry company” that show people from the upper middle classes dining, drinking and playing music. Palamedesz was born in Delft in 1601 as the son of a Flemish gemstone engraver who was later appointed to the court of the Stuart King James I. The nickname “Stevers” or “Stevens”, borne by Anthonie and his brother Palamedes Palamedesz, who also worked as a painter, may be derived from this.

We would like to thank Sabine van Beek of the RKD in the Hague for confirming the authenticity of this work on the basis of digital photographs. Fred G. Meijer also confirmed the attribution to this painter in 1996.