Group Portrait of Three Brothers c. 1627 - 1632

This is a group portrait of three brothers, painted by Thomas de Keyser. The artist has employed oil paints on a wooden support. De Keyser used his materials to great effect. The realism afforded by oil paint, with its capacity to mimic textures, has been used to create a tangible sense of surface. The crispness of the linen, the luster of the gold jewelry, the shine on the children's skin. All of this reminds us that the work is not just about aesthetics, but also about the accumulation of wealth. Painting in oils was a skilled, time-consuming activity. These were costly materials; this was a costly commission. We can tell that the artist, and his patrons, were deeply immersed in a culture of luxury and display. It's no accident that paintings like this were highly valued then, and still are today. This painting reminds us to consider the wider social forces that underpin art history.