The Merry Family, Jan Havicksz. Steen, 1668

The Merry Family, Jan Havicksz. Steen, 1668

oil on canvas, h 110.5cm × w 141cm More details

The entire family is in high spirits, creating a ruckus: father, mother, and grandmother sing loudly, the children join in, and they even puff on long pipes. The note on the mantelpiece hints that there is a lesson to be learned from this painting: ‘As the old sing, so shall the young twitter.’ What is to become of the children if their parents set the wrong example?

On display in Gallery of Honour Visit via the Highlights Gallery of Honour tour

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