Portrait of David van Mollem with his Family 1740

Nicolaas Verkolje painted this group portrait of David van Mollem and his family sometime around the late 17th or early 18th century in the Netherlands. It offers us a glimpse into the world of a wealthy Dutch family, a world shaped by trade, colonialism, and evolving social norms. Here, the artist attempts to capture not just likenesses, but also a sense of dynastic pride. The setting itself – a grand, classically inspired garden – speaks to the family’s cultivated tastes and elevated status. Yet, these displays of power are also deeply personal. Van Mollem’s engagement with the viewer draws us in, while the tender interactions between family members suggest a desire to be seen as loving and close-knit. This portrait is as much about constructing an image of familial harmony as it is about documenting individual identities. It invites us to consider how families in the Dutch Golden Age navigated the complexities of wealth, status, and intimacy, and how they wished to be remembered by posterity.