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River Landscape with Riders

The Feast of St Nicholas

From the series One hundred masterpieces
The Feast of St Nicholas Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on canvas, 1665–1668

‘Sweets for the sweet, birches for the naughty.’ Jan Steen portrayed the feast of St Nicholas with lively gestures and gazes.

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1:21 min. - What deeper meaning did the cheese have?

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1:21 min. - What is there to smile about here?

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1:07 min. - What’s going on with this swan?

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1:11 min. - Do you see the miller on the balcony?

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1:10 min. - What three genres do you see in this work?

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1:17 min. - Take a look at the quick and short brushstrokes

The Feast of St Nicholas The Feast of St Nicholas

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1:14 min. - How did Jan Steen instil such vivacity in this festivity?

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0:52 min. - See how wonderfully well the horses are painted

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1:13 min. - Just look at these masterful reflections and refined composition

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1:17 min. - So what makes this such a popular painting?

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1:26 min. - Go zigzagging through the envitons of Haarlem