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The Cuckold Bridegroom

about 1670 | Jan Steen

Here Jan Steen has opulently painted a genre scene with a morally instructive message. A somewhat older bridegroom is leading his reluctant and clearly heavily pregnant bride away from a party to their wedding night. The guests – including the artist, who has painted himself in the middle wearing a blue cape and playing a friction drum – are aware of the bride’s condition: on the right a young man is making the sign of the cuckold, holding up his hand with two spread fingers.

Here Jan Steen has opulently painted a genre scene with a morally instructive message. A somewhat older bridegroom is leading his reluctant and clearly heavily pregnant bride away from a party to their wedding night. The guests – including the artist, who has painted himself in the middle wearing a blue cape and playing a friction drum – are aware of the bride’s condition: on the right a young man is making the sign of the cuckold, holding up his hand with two spread fingers.

Artist:
Jan Steen (1626 - 1679 Leiden) DNB

Time:
about 1670

Object Name
Painting

Culture
Dutch

Material/technology:
Canvas

Dimensions:
57 cm × 68,5 cm
Framed: 74 cm × 85,5 cm × 9 cm

Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie

Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 714

Provenance
1783 documented in the gallery

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