The Holy Family

Jacob Jordaens (1593–1678)

Ca 1616. Oil on wood

Jacob Jordaens, who was accepted into the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp in 1615, became one of the three most renowned Flemish painters of the 17th century, along with Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, whose art was admired by the patricians of Antwerp, as well as by the royalty of the neighbouring countries.

Known in art history mainly for his huge figurative compositions, Jacob Jordaens painted this intimate close-up portrait of the Holy Family during the early years of his independent career as an artist, when his style was still strongly influenced by Rubens. Jordaens painted the same composition at least twice: there is a replica in a Western European private collection. The painting in the Kadriorg Art Museum is the earlier of the two, and more picturesque in style.