Portraits of the Van Esch-De Carpentier Family, anonymous, 1632

Portraits of the Van Esch-De Carpentier Family, anonymous, 1632

oil on copper, h 15.8cm × w 12.8cm Catalogue entry

In 1632, Josina de Carpentier and Cornelis van Esch from Dordrecht commissioned miniature portraits of their family. The children look very much alike at first, both in appearance and clothing: they are all wearing skirts. The details tell us more. The parents have given their sons pleated ruffs and daughters starched flat collars. This is how they presented their children to the world according to their sex.

Catalogue entry