Rich Children, Poor Parents

Aert Pietersz., 1599

The parents have spent all their money on providing their son with a good upbringing. They now turn to him for help, which he flatly refuses because he has to maintain his status. In so doing, he breaks the Fifth Commandment: ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ But the parents, too, have failed to act according to the Bible; had they been more mindful of their money, they would not have become destitute.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4822
  • Dimensionsheight 61 cm x width 163 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on panel

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Rich Children, Poor Parents

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4822

  • Description

    Rijke kinderen, arme ouders. Op een terras staat rechts een rijk echtpaar met vijf kinderen, links komen de arme ouders de trap af. Een van de kinderen speelt met een stokpaard, een ander heeft een hondje onder de arm. Rechts bij een hek kijken twee vrouwen toe. De door de vader en zoon uitgesproken teksten staan als opschriften op bordjes.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    • inscription: ‘Doet ons bijstant / mijn sone want / Ick hebbe u gegeven / ons goet Contant / In uwer hant / Waer bij zullen wij leven’
    • inscription: ‘Och vaeder siet / Ick en hebbe niet / op mijnder trouwen / U te geven ijet / Wat mijn gheschiet / Ick moet staet houwe[n]’

Creation

  • Creation

    • painter: Aert Pietersz.
    • painter: Pieter Pietersz. (I)
  • Dating

    1599

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on panel

  • Dimensions

    height 61 cm x width 163 cm


This work is about

  • Subject


Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt and the Rijksmuseum-Stichting

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1983

  • Copyright

  • Provenance

    …; sale, Earl of Haddington et al. [section 'Property of a Gentleman'], London (Sotheby’s), 9 June 1955, no. 156, as Dutch School, £220, to the Leger Gallery, London;{Copy RMA}…; from the dealer E.J. Speelman, London, fl.200,000, to the museum, with support from the Vereniging Rembrandt and the Rijksmuseum Stichting, to the museum, 1983

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.


Documentation

    • W. Kloek, 'Pieter Aertsen en de wereld op zijn kop', Amsterdam 2010, p. 58, afb. 55
    • p. 237

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