Jan SteenDutch, 1626–1679Prince’s Day
Can I see it?
Unknown
Where is “Prince’s Day” now? Collection: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Unknown.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The owner is known; whether it is on view today is not.
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
Prince’s Day! This popular feast-day celebrated the birthday (14 November 1650) of Prince William III of
Orange-Nassau. How this was done is explained on the piece of paper on the floor in the middle foreground.
This translates as: ‘To the health of the Nassau laddie, in one hand a rapier, and in the other a glass raised gladly.’ This is sure to boost spirits; the revellers take no notice of the portrait of the prince ‘overlooking’ the scene.
Rijksmuseum
Details
- Accession number
- SK-A-384
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Rijksmuseum
- Image: Rijksmuseum — public domain
In the life of Jan Steen
The whole life1660–1670
Haarlem: his most productive period
From 1660 to 1670 Steen lived in Haarlem, and this was the most productive period of his life.
1669–1670
The deaths of his wife, mother and father
By 1669 Steen's finances had improved, but in the spring his wife died, later that year his mother, and a year later his father.
1670
Returns to Leiden, to his parents' house
After his father's death Steen returned to Leiden and lived for the rest of his life in the house he inherited from his parents.
1671
Elected head of the Leiden Guild of St Luke
In 1671 Steen was elected princeps — head — of the local Guild of St Luke.
1672
Opens the tavern “De Vrede” (“Peace”)
Steen opened the tavern “De Vrede” (“Peace”); his debts mounted again, the art market was declining, and according to Houbraken he often spent his time drinking.
3 February 1679
Died
