The Governors of the Guild of St Luke, Haarlem, 1675 1675

Jan de Bray's "The Governors of the Guild of St. Luke, Haarlem" (1675) is a group portrait depicting the leaders of the Guild of St. Luke, a professional organization for artists in the Dutch Golden Age. The painting, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases de Bray's mastery of realism and composition. The figures are rendered with meticulous detail, their clothing and expressions conveying their status and roles within the guild. The dramatic use of light and shadow further adds to the painting's depth and realism. This work offers a glimpse into the social and professional lives of artists during this prosperous period in Dutch history.